Trump Targets Harvard Funding, Foreign Students Amid Elite Backlash

President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Harvard University, targeting its admissions policies, foreign student population, and funding. Trump highlighted Harvard's introduction of remedial math courses and the elimination of standardized testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting the university lowered academic standards. He has also moved to block federal grant money and revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, particularly focusing on foreign students, many from privileged backgrounds, whom he claims should not be allowed to remain in the U.S. Trump proposed redirecting billions of dollars from Harvard's grants to trade schools, framing it as a strategic investment. Harvard elites have responded by portraying themselves as victims, organizing events to counter Trump’s attacks, while critics also accuse Harvard of engaging in censorship activities through entities like the Belfer Center and USAID, which allegedly targeted conservative media such as Breitbart. These developments underscore a broader cultural and political clash between Trump and elite academic institutions over issues of privilege, diversity, and ideological control.