Trump Moves to Strip Harvard of Tax-Exempt Status Over Antisemitism, ‘Woke’ Hiring Practices

By: Fern Sidman

In a bold escalation of his administration’s ongoing campaign against radicalism and antisemitism in American higher education, President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration will move to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, citing the Ivy League institution’s alleged failure to combat antisemitism and its embrace of “woke, Radical Left” ideology. The announcement follows weeks of scrutiny and an official request from the administration to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to strip the university of its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation.

“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s tax-exempt status,” Trump declared. “It’s what they deserve!”

According to a report that appeared on Friday morning at Fox News, Trump’s decision stems from a series of allegations that Harvard has failed to uphold civil rights protections, particularly in the wake of surging antisemitic incidents tied to pro-Hamas campus protests. The Trump administration argues that this inaction disqualifies Harvard from maintaining its tax-advantaged status and eligibility for federal funding.

The controversy traces back to April 11, when the Trump administration sent a formal letter to Harvard President Dr. Alan Garber and Harvard Corporation Lead Member Penny Pritzker, laying out a damning case against the university’s leadership. As reported by Fox News, the letter accused Harvard of promoting a toxic academic culture, failing to foster an environment of intellectual integrity, and neglecting its obligation to combat discrimination—including antisemitism—on campus.

In the letter, federal officials outlined a series of compliance demands, including changes to Harvard’s governance structure, hiring practices, and international admissions policies. The administration emphasized that the university must reject applicants who are “hostile to American values” or show support for terrorism or antisemitic ideologies.

When Harvard refused to comply, citing academic independence and First Amendment concerns, the Trump administration responded by freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university. According to The Wall Street Journal, an additional $1 billion in potential funding cuts is also being considered.

In a characteristically fiery post on Truth Social, President Trump lambasted Harvard for what he sees as a wholesale departure from academic excellence and American principles. As reported by Fox News, he wrote: “Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and ‘birdbrains’ who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called ‘future leaders.’”

He went on to take aim at the university’s current and former leadership, referencing recent scandals—including those involving plagiarism—and arguing that Harvard’s reputation as a world-class institution has collapsed.

“Harvard is a JOKE,” Trump continued. “It teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”

According to the Fox News report, Trump previously said that Harvard had “lost its way” and no longer deserved to benefit from its tax-exempt status or federal largesse.

Harvard has emerged as a central target in Trump’s broader campaign to reform what he sees as radicalization in American academia. Following last year’s anti-Israel demonstrations, the administration has vowed to hold elite institutions accountable for what it claims are widespread violations of civil rights, selective admissions policies, and the suppression of free speech for students with conservative or pro-Israel views.

As the Fox News report noted, the Trump administration’s move against Harvard could signal a watershed moment in federal oversight of private universities. The president’s supporters argue that tax-exempt status should not shield institutions that “promote hatred” or fail to adhere to national values. Critics, however, warn that the decision risks politicizing academic governance and undermines constitutional protections for free inquiry.

In response to the Trump administration’s actions, President Alan Garber defended the university’s independence and pushed back strongly against what he described as federal overreach.

“No government—Democratic or Republican—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Garber said, as quoted by Fox News.

Harvard has since filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling the freezing of funds “unlawful” and an attempt to coerce the university into ideological conformity.

While the IRS has yet to publicly comment on the status of Harvard’s 501(c)(3) designation, the Trump administration’s actions mark a decisive shift in the relationship between federal power and elite academia. If successful, the revocation of tax-exempt status would carry enormous financial implications, potentially forcing Harvard to pay taxes on billions of dollars in assets and income.

As the report at Fox News noted, the move could serve as a model for similar action against other universities accused of promoting extremist ideologies or allowing antisemitism to flourish unchecked.

President Trump’s announcement represents a bold, controversial, and unprecedented challenge to one of America’s most storied academic institutions. As the legal and political battles unfold, Harvard finds itself at the center of a national reckoning over free speech, academic freedom, and the limits of federal power in education.

Trump’s supporters see this as a long-overdue correction; critics view it as a dangerous intrusion, according to the Fox News report. But one thing is clear: the era of unchecked elite university privilege may be drawing to a close under Trump’s watch.