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Breaking News: Trump Escalates Feud with Harvard Amid Antisemitism Allegations
In a bold move making headlines worldwide, President Donald Trump has threatened to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, shortly after announcing the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding. This development has ignited a firestorm in both political and academic circles, and is dominating the latest world news updates today.
Key Highlights of the Harvard vs Trump Clash
- $2.2 Billion Federal Funds Frozen: Includes grants and contracts tied to research.
- Tax-Exempt Status Under Threat: Trump accuses Harvard of acting like a political entity.
- Demands Rejected: Harvard refuses to allow federal oversight of hiring and teaching.
- Freedom of Speech Concerns: Faculty, students, and legal experts call it an attack on academic freedom.
- Focus on Antisemitism: The administration insists that elite institutions are failing Jewish students.
- Trump’s Statement: Harvard May Be “Taxed as a Political Entity”\
Posting on Truth Social, Trump warned:
“Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status… Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”
He claims Harvard is promoting “political, ideological, and terrorist-supporting sickness” by refusing to discipline students and staff engaged in recent anti-Israel protests.
Harvard Responds: “We Will Not Surrender Our Independence”
Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would stand by its values, emphasizing:
“We will not relinquish our independence or First Amendment rights.”
He warned that the majority of the proposed federal reforms would constitute direct government regulation of academic life.
Legal Challenges and Rising Tensions on Campus
The university’s faculty is now pushing back with lawsuits, arguing that the Trump administration’s actions violate freedom of speech and academic autonomy.
David Armitage, a Harvard historian, called it an “entirely groundless and vengeful” act.
Political Backlash & Public Sentiment
Republican figures, including Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, have joined the chorus, demanding all federal funding to Harvard be “totally cut off.”
A Gallup poll reveals declining public trust in higher education, especially among conservatives who feel universities push a political agenda.
Why This Matters: A Global Spotlight on US Academia
This explosive clash between the US government and one of the world’s most prestigious universities has captured global attention. With protests, funding freezes, and legal battles unfolding, the Harvard standoff has become a defining story in the latest world news and higher education discourse.
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