President Donald Trump on Monday intensified his criticism of Harvard University. He said he is thinking about redirecting $3 billion in grant money from Harvard to trade schools across the United States. Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump called Harvard “very antisemitic” and said that investing in trade schools would be “a great investment” for the country. Trade schools teach practical skills for specific jobs and trades.
It is not clear how Trump plans to move the money or if it involves funds his administration has already frozen. Last week, Trump took steps to block Harvard from enrolling international students and froze billions of dollars in federal funding to the university. He claims Harvard has not done enough to fight antisemitism on campus.
Harvard has not yet responded to requests for comment. The university filed a lawsuit last month against Trump’s earlier move to cut $2.2 billion in federal funding. Harvard called the action unlawful.
Last week, Harvard also sued over the administration’s attempt to stop it from enrolling foreign students. Harvard President Alan Garber said the government was trying to control the university’s curriculum, faculty, and student body. A federal judge temporarily blocked the government’s ban on foreign students, but the White House criticized the ruling.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “The American people elected President Trump – not random local judges with their own liberal agenda – to run the country.” She added that unelected judges have no right to block the administration’s immigration and national security policies.
Trump has also threatened to remove Harvard’s tax-exempt status. He wants to stop Harvard’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and change its hiring practices. The administration also plans to audit Harvard’s students and faculty for “viewpoint diversity.”
The White House has targeted other top universities too. It has cut federal funding to Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University. These moves appear aimed at pressuring universities to follow the Trump administration’s policies.
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