Trump Raises Concerns Over Foreign Student Enrollment at Harvard University
Trump's Critique of Harvard University
In light of ongoing tensions between Harvard University and the Trump administration, President Donald Trump expressed his concerns regarding the institution during a media briefing on Sunday.
Trump highlighted, "One of the issues with Harvard is that approximately 31% of its students are international. We provide them with billions in funding, which seems unreasonable. We might reconsider our grants to Harvard. They have this 31% foreign student ratio, yet they refuse to disclose their identities. We want transparency regarding these individuals."
He further elaborated that the high number of foreign students at Harvard limits opportunities for American students who aspire to attend the university.
Trump remarked, "While we don't oppose foreign students, having 31% is excessive. There are many Americans who wish to enroll, but they are unable to due to this high foreign student population. Notably, no foreign government contributes to Harvard; we do. So, why the high numbers?"
Addressing another concern, Trump insisted, "Secondly, we demand a list of these foreign students to assess their backgrounds. While many may be fine, I suspect some may not be."
His third point of contention was the issue of anti-Semitism at the university. He stated, "Additionally, they have a significant anti-Semitic presence. This is widely recognized and must be addressed immediately."
The ongoing conflict between Harvard and the Trump administration has persisted for months, with the administration urging the university to amend its programming and hiring practices to eliminate on-campus anti-Semitism and what they describe as 'racist diversity, equity, and inclusion' initiatives. The administration has also scrutinized foreign students and staff, whom they believe participated in protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to reports, a federal judge recently issued a temporary injunction against the Trump administration's ban after Harvard filed a lawsuit.
Harvard contended that the revocation of its certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was a direct retaliation for its refusal to comply with the government's ideologically driven demands.
On Saturday, Trump commented on his administration's move to prevent Harvard from enrolling international students, stating, "Billions have been given to Harvard. How absurd is that? They possess an endowment of USD 52 billion... Harvard must change its practices."
On Thursday, the White House remarked, "Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right," accusing Harvard's leadership of transforming the institution into a hub for anti-American, anti-Semitic, and pro-terrorist sentiments.