President Donald Trump has taken aim at Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League institution of enrolling large numbers of foreign students—many from nations “not at all friendly” to the United States—while receiving billions in taxpayer-funded federal support. Trump claims these students contribute little or nothing toward the cost of their education, calling it a deal that disadvantages American taxpayers and students.
In a strongly worded post, Trump criticized Harvard for allowing nearly a third of its student body to consist of international students. He demanded that the university disclose the names and national origins of its foreign enrollees, calling it a “reasonable request” given the amount of public money the school receives.
The statement comes amid an intensifying legal and political battle between the Trump administration and elite academic institutions. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security attempted to revoke Harvard’s ability to issue student visas, prompting the university to file a lawsuit. A federal judge has since issued a temporary restraining order, pausing the enforcement of the visa ban while the case proceeds.
Trump has also proposed stripping Harvard of up to $3 billion in federal research grants and redirecting those funds to trade schools and vocational institutions. He argues that working-class Americans are being shortchanged by an elite academic class that operates without accountability while benefiting from federal largesse.
The controversy is part of a broader crackdown on what Trump calls “unpatriotic and bloated universities.” Other institutions, including Columbia and Princeton, have also come under federal scrutiny for their financial practices, lack of transparency, and perceived political bias.
Critics of the administration’s approach warn that such actions could have long-term consequences for America’s standing in global education. International students contribute an estimated $43 billion to the U.S. economy each year, and top-tier universities like Harvard are widely regarded as engines of innovation and leadership.
Nevertheless, Trump and his supporters argue that national interest and fairness to American families must come first. They say it’s time for elite universities to answer tough questions about who they serve, how they’re funded, and whether they are acting in the best interests of the country.
The legal battle continues, but the political message is clear: Trump is not backing down from his campaign to hold America’s most powerful academic institutions accountable.
