U.S. President Donald Trump raised new concerns about Harvard University on Sunday. He claimed that the university admits too many foreign students and suggested changes are necessary.
While speaking to the media, Trump said, “Part of the problem with Harvard is that there are about 31 per cent of foreigners coming to Harvard. We give them billions of dollars, which is ridiculous.” He criticized the federal funding Harvard receives and hinted at cutting grants in the future. “We do grants, which we’re probably not going to be doing much grants anymore to Harvard,” he added.
Trump: Too Many Foreign Students Block Americans
Trump argued that a large number of international students at Harvard prevents Americans from gaining admission. He said some foreign students may be acceptable, but the current percentage is too high. “Now, a lot of the foreign students we wouldn’t have a problem with, but it shouldn’t be 31 percent. It’s too much because we have Americans that want to go there and to other places, and they can’t go there because you have 31 percent foreign,” Trump explained. He also questioned why Harvard won’t disclose who these students are. “They refuse to tell us who the people are. We want to know who the people.”
Trump Wants List of Foreign Students
Listing his second concern, Trump said his administration wants to review the identities of foreign students. “We want a list of those foreign students, and we’ll find out whether or not they’re okay. Many will be okay, I assume. And I assume with Harvard, many will be bad.”
Trump Accuses Harvard of Anti-Semitism
Trump’s third major concern focused on anti-Semitism on campus. He strongly criticized Harvard’s atmosphere, calling it biased against Jews. “Then the other thing is they’re very anti-Semitic. Everybody knows they’re anti-Semitic. And that’s got to stop immediately.”
Conflict Between Harvard and the Trump Administration Grows
For months, the Trump administration and Harvard have been locked in a dispute. The administration wants the university to change its hiring practices and curriculum. It accuses Harvard of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that it calls “racist” and of ignoring on-campus anti-Semitism.
The administration also blamed some foreign students and employees for recent protests against Israel during the Israel-Hamas war.
Harvard Takes Legal Action Against Federal Orders
According to CNN, Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit. A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
Harvard claimed that the federal move was punishment for not following government policies. The university called the actions “clear retaliation.”
Trump Questions Harvard’s Wealth and Federal Support
On Saturday, Trump said it made no sense for taxpayers to fund such a wealthy institution. “Billions of dollars have been paid to Harvard. How ridiculous is that?… And they have USD 52 billion as an endowment… Harvard’s going to have to change its ways.”
White House Justifies Ban on International Enrollment
Earlier, on Thursday, the White House stated that accepting foreign students is a privilege, not a right. It accused Harvard of turning its campus into a place for anti-American and pro-terrorist activity.
The White House said Harvard had become a “hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators.”