Will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status: Trump
The US President’s latest salvo at the university comes in the backdrop of his decision to freeze $2.2 billion federal grants to the institution
Upping the ante in his government’s ongoing standoff with Harvard University, US President Donald Trump on Friday (May 2) said that he will revoke the tax-exempt status of the Ivy League University. The development comes after the oldest university in the US rejected several demands for reforms, including restrictions on campus activism.
'They deserve it'
"We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!" Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
The US President’s latest salvo at the university comes against the backdrop of his decision to freeze $2.2 billion federal grants to the institution after it refused to accept his demands.
Despite the Trump administration’s demand for sweeping governance and leadership reforms at Harvard, including changes in its admission policies, the University has refused to comply. Harvard's interim president, Alan Garber, asserted that the institute "will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” reported India Today.
Also read: Harvard sues Trump administration over freeze of $2-billion grants
Trump slams Harvard
According to media reports, Trump had earlier accused Harvard University of abusing its tax-exempt status and said, "I think Harvard is a disgrace.”
The administration on April 29 announced that it was initiating a probe against Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review, claiming that government officials have received reports of race-based discrimination influencing the activities of the journal.
Also read: Letter that sparked ugly Harvard-Trump row was sent by mistake: Report
Pro-Palestinian protests
In the wake of pro-Palestine protests, the Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of these institutions.
However, Harvard University authorities were left red-faced after an internal report on campus antisemitism revealed on Tuesday that it harboured a hostile environment towards Jews, Israelis and Muslims.
“I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community,” Garber said in a statement.