Washington, D.C. [US], May 31 (ANI): U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his administration’s efforts to restrict Harvard University’s enrollment of foreign students, citing national security concerns and an ongoing dispute over federal funding. Trump stated that he doesn’t want “students who are causing trouble” in the country, intensifying tensions between the White House and one of America’s most prestigious educational institutions.
“We want students, I want foreign students here… Our country has given Harvard $5 billion plus over a short period of time. Nobody knew that; we found that out. I wouldn’t say that was a DOGE thing,” Trump remarked, referencing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was created to monitor and reduce government spending.
Trump claimed that litigation between his administration and Harvard arose not only due to ideological differences but also over anti-Semitism allegations. “We ended up in litigation for other reasons because they’re very anti-Semitic. And in finding out and in going through the books, we found out that the country gave them $5 billion plus, much more than that, actually, and we’re having it out with them, and let’s see what happens. It’s a very sad case. It’s a case we win. We can’t lose that case because we have the right to make grants. We’re not going to make any grants like that, but I don’t think Harvard has been acting very nicely,” he said.
The controversy deepened after the Trump administration attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling international students, prompting the institution to file a lawsuit in federal court. A federal judge later temporarily halted the ban.
Earlier, Trump called for a cap on foreign student admissions at Harvard, suggesting the university limit its international student population to 15 percent. He expressed concern that Harvard currently admits nearly 31 percent foreign students, some of whom, he alleged, come from “areas of the world that are very radicalised.”
“Why would 31 percent? Why would a number be so big? I think they (Harvard University) should have a cap of maybe around 15 percent. We have people that want to go to Harvard and other schools but they can’t get in because we have foreign students there,” Trump said.
In a pointed critique, the President suggested that some foreign students were “troublemakers” contributing to civil unrest. “We don’t want to see shopping centres explode. We don’t want to see the kind of riots that you had, and I’ll tell you what, many of those students didn’t go anywhere, many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left,” Trump claimed.
Harvard University responded by arguing that the administration’s move to revoke its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was “clear retaliation” for the school’s refusal to comply with politically motivated federal demands.
The case remains a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration, academic freedom, and the politicization of higher education in the United States. (ANI)
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