President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Harvard University, accusing the institution of withholding critical information about its foreign students and hinting at severe financial consequences if it continues to resist federal demands.
“We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.
He continued his critique in a follow-up post: “Harvard is very slow in the presentation of these documents, and probably for good reason!” Trump said. “The best thing Harvard has going for it is that they have shopped around and found the absolute best Judge (for them!) – But have no fear, the Government will, in the end, WIN!”
Later that same day, Trump reportedly floated a potential funding cut: “I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land.”
“What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!” he added.
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The remarks come as Harvard faces off with the federal government in court over its ability to host international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
On Friday, Judge Allison D. Burroughs, an Obama appointee, issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke Harvard’s certification in the program. This visa framework allows the university to admit international students holding F-1 or J-1 visas.
The legal dispute stems from a letter sent Thursday by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who informed Harvard it had lost its “privilege” to enroll foreign students. The decision, she said, was based on Harvard’s “refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security with pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.”
“This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard’s failure to comply with simple reporting requirements,” Noem wrote.
Noem explained that she had requested, starting April 16, detailed records regarding “nonimmigrant students” enrolled at Harvard. This included documentation of misconduct or any offenses that could make those students inadmissible or subject to removal from the U.S.
Although Harvard responded twice, Noem said those replies were inadequate. She stressed the seriousness of the issue: “Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses.”
The requested materials include audio and video footage involving threats, violence, or rights violations committed by nonimmigrant students on or off campus, as well as disciplinary records and documentation of protest activities.
The department gave Harvard 72 hours to submit the data to regain its certification. Instead, Harvard responded with legal action, filing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts early Friday.
In its filing, Harvard claimed that the loss of certification would impact more than 7,000 visa holders, over a quarter of its student body, and argued the government’s actions were unconstitutional.
The university asserted: “It is a blatant violation of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act.”
“It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government’s demands to control Harvard’s governance, curriculum, and the ‘ideology’ of its faculty and students,” the lawsuit states.
A new hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Boston federal court.
