Trump Administration Uses IRS Against Opponents, Echoing Nixon Tactics

President Donald Trump has been accused of using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for political purposes, including targeting his adversaries and threatening the tax-exempt status of universities like Harvard. This strategy closely mirrors tactics employed by former President Richard Nixon, who attempted to misuse the IRS to punish enemies and reward friends, including efforts to monitor tax returns and enforce political loyalty within the agency. Experts and historians highlight that while Trump's actions may seem unprecedented, they follow a precedent set by Nixon despite laws enacted after Watergate to prevent such abuses. Both presidents expressed frustration with universities over student protests, with Nixon focused on Vietnam War demonstrations and Trump criticizing responses to protests related to the war in Gaza. The Trump administration has also used IRS data to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement in identifying undocumented immigrants, a move upheld by a recent court ruling. These developments have raised concerns about the politicization of the IRS and the erosion of democratic norms.