Vishwakhabram: Why Donald Trump waged war against Harvard University? Now what will happen to Foreign Students?

More than the ongoing tariff war between the US and China, there are currently a war between US President Donald Trump and the prestigious American university Harvard. Let us tell you that Harvard University is the place where Mark Zuckerberg created a Facebook prototype to rating his classmates and where eight American presidents learned the art of rule. Harvard is the richest university in the world from where all the rulers, industrialists and famous personalities from various fields have studied. This university is also a symbol of the ambition and intellectual ego of the elite. An identity of this university is that Donald Trump hates it. Trump is using all the penalty to bow down to this university in his second term, but Harvard Sina stands up.

Let us tell you that under the Trump administration, the US Home Ministry has given a fresh warning to the Harvard University that if it fails to provide records about the “illegal and violent” activities of international student visa holders by April 30, then the university process of admission to foreign students will be banned. The US Home Ministry has also canceled a grant of more than US $ 27 lakh given to Harvard University. Let us tell you that this latest action of the Trump administration against Harvard has been taken after a ban on federal funding of US $ 2.2 billion as the university rejected a list of administration demands. The US administration has also proposed to cancel its tax-free status due to the university’s “radical ideology”. The US Home Ministry said in a statement, “Home Minister Christie NoM has announced the cancellation of two $ 27 million grant to Harvard University.” The statement said, “The minister has also written a letter, which has sought a detailed record of illegal and violent activities of foreign student visa holders of Harvard by 30 April 2025.” The statement said that the university process of admission to foreign students will be banned if the records are not provided.

By the way, if the Trump administration and Harvard University are adamant on their own words, then it is certain that due to the stoppage of funding and the risk of visa, it will be difficult for global students to continue studying in this university or come to study here. In the US, where a class is supporting Trump’s move, there is also a class that is seen standing with the Harvard University, considering the trump administration’s move as an attack on educational institutions. Let us tell you that the Trump administration’s biggest allegation on Harvard is that the university failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination and campus enmity, especially during Palestinian protests.

Let us also tell you that Harvard is not on the target of Trump from today but it came on target when some groups of this university issued a statement on 7 October 2023 after the attack on Israel from Hamas in which Israel was convicted for increasing violence in Gaza. The statement provoked the outrage of the prominent donors of this university, including the hedge fund billionaire Bill Ekman. He also launched a campaign against Harvard’s moral cowardice. Trump was angry since that time and when he saw Harvard refused to obey his order, his resentment erupted. Trump directed his administration to take action, due to which the Homeland Security Department started a review of Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. Parallel to this, an investigation into the allegation also began, stating that Harvard allowed Jewish students to create hostile atmosphere.

On the other hand, people supporting Harvard’s stance say that if the government succeeds in turning Harvard policies through funding freeze and immigration control, no other campus will feel safe in protesting. He says that today is Harvard’s turn, tomorrow Columbia, Pen, MIT and Stanford may face this situation. Looking at the situation of this time, Harvard is fighting to maintain his autonomy. Whereas President Trump rich academics seem firm to run according to their wish. In the latest attack on the university, Trump said on his Truth Social Platform, “Harvard can no longer be considered a civilized place and should not be considered in any list of great universities or colleges of the world.” He wrote, “Harvard is a joke, teaches hatred and stupidity and should no longer get government grants. Trump says that Harvard is clearly anti -Jew. He said that Harvard is hiring to work to the leftist leftists, fools and” biased -minded “, who are able to teach only students and so -called” future leaders “.” It was posted that if Harvard does not consider their demands to change the way of running the university with the selection of students and the rights of professors, then he should “lose tax status and be taxed as a political entity”.

Let us also tell you that Trump and his White House team have justified their pressure on universities as an uncontrolled Jewish spirit and a response to the support of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. White House press secretary Caroline Lewit told reporters that Trump “wanted to see Harvard apologizing and Harvard should apologize.” Let us tell you that the White House has threatened dozens of universities and colleges to abolish federal funds.

In response, Harvard has said that there is no legal basis for cancellation of his tax -free situation. Harvard has also said that he will not make any changes in his recruitment, admission and teaching plans. Let us also tell you that Harvard is standing alone against Trump while many other American universities have bent in front of the intense pressure of the White House. The University of Columbia in New York has agreed to monitor its Middle Eastern Department after threatening a $ 400 million cut in its federal fund. In addition, dozens of universities are not directly clash with the Trump administration but are fighting against the deduction of extensive research funds in the court, as not getting funds have to trimp and have a deep uncertainty among American academics.

However, let us tell you that many American universities get some kind of federal funding, mostly for scientific research in areas such as drug development. Eminent institutions like Stanford University have had to stop recruitment and have to cut the budget since Trump took over again in January due to a decrease in federal funds. All this is also affecting foreign students who were planning to enroll in American universities. Harvard has both money and reputation, it will have to be seen how much these strengths support him while confronting Trump?

-Niraj Kumar Dubey