United States President Donald Trump raised his tone against Harvard University on Tuesday, threatening to remove the institution’s fiscal exemption and demanding a public apology. Climbing occurs one day after the government announced the one destined to the university.
In a publication on the social network Truth Social, Trump suggested that Harvard be treated as a political entity if he continues to “promote political ideologies” which, he said, would be associated with “support for terrorism.” “Maybe Harvard should lose his tax exemption status and be taxed as a political entity,” he wrote. “Remember, the tax exemption depends completely on acting in the public interest!”
In the United States, universities enjoy federal tax exemption, a benefit that can be revoked if institutions are considered involved in political activities or deviate from their educational mission.
Later, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump expects a formal apology from the university. “The president wants to see Harvard apologize, and Harvard should apologize,” he said.
The tension between the government and Harvard intensified after the university refused to implement a series of changes required by the White House. Measures included changes in hiring and admissions, external audits in departments accused of fostering anti -Semitic harassment and monitoring of students considered “hostile” to US values.
Harvard stated that the demands violate their autonomy and classified the attempt to intervene as illegal. The institution’s firm response was seen as a milestone in the clash between the federal government and the academic sector, especially in the midst of a broader context of cuts and pressures against elite universities in the US.
