Trump threatens Harvard tax-exempt status amid $2.3B funding freeze

President Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status if it continues to refuse his administration's demands, which include reporting students deemed hostile to 'American values' and ensuring ideological diversity within its academic departments. This warning follows the Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard after the university rejected these demands, claiming they infringe on its academic independence. Trump's statements reflect a broader push against elite universities that he accuses of harboring antisemitism, particularly in response to protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Harvard President Alan Garber has emphasized the university's commitment to its constitutional rights and academic freedom, stating that it will not submit to governmental control over its educational practices. Other universities, like Columbia, have opted to comply with the administration's requests to avoid similar funding losses. This escalating conflict underscores the tension between the Trump administration and higher education institutions regarding academic governance and free expression.