Trump threatens Harvard with foreign student ban

The US government on Thursday, April 17, 2025, threatened to ban Harvard University from enrolling foreign students.

It comes after the institution said it would not bow to demands from Donald Trump’s administration.

The White House has demanded the oldest university in the US to make changes to hiring, admissions and teaching practices.

According to it, this will help fight antisemitism on campus.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday accused the Ivy League school of “threatening national security”.

Noem also accused it of “bending the knee to antisemitism”.

She also demanded records on its foreign student visa holders’ “illegal and violent” activities.

International students make up more than 27% of Harvard’s enrolment this year.

Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a message on Monday to the Harvard community:

“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”

Billions of dollars hang in the balance for the university.

Authorities have frozen $2.2 bn (£1.7bn) in federal funds.

President Trump had earlier threatened to also remove a valuable tax exemption, the loss of which could cost Harvard millions of dollars each year.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday:

“Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges.”

“Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”

The administration’s attacks on Harvard are not isolated.

During his presidential campaign, Trump pitched a funding crackdown on universities, painting them as hostile to conservatives.

Since taking office, his administration has focused particularly on colleges where pro-Palestinian protests have taken place.

Some Jewish students have said they felt unsafe and faced harassment on campus.

The government’s antisemitism task force, formed in February, has identified at least 60 universities for review.

In March, Columbia University, agreed to several of the administration’s demands.

This came after $400m (£310m) in federal funding was pulled, over accusations that the university failed to fight antisemitism on campus.

The demands included replacing the official leading its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies department.

It also included that the Institution pledge to take on a review to “ensure unbiased admission processes”.

Harvard too has made concessions.

Last month, it dismissed the leaders of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies, who had come under fire for failing to represent Israeli perspectives.

Harvard has not publicly responded to Noem’s latest demands.

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