 "Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium. Both are currently enrolled at Harvard and potentially face academic disruption following Trump's order. Image courtesy: Harvard Office for Sustainability, AP")
Amid a fierce and escalating dispute between Donald Trump and the prestigious Harvard University, several international students have found themselves unexpectedly caught in the crossfire.
On Friday, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to strip the elite university of its eligibility to enrol international students.
While a US court has since issued a temporary restraining order , the stakes remain high. If the administration’s order is ultimately upheld, Harvard warns it will have an “immediate and devastating effect” on its 7,000 international visa holders.
Among those now in an uncertain position are two prominent names: Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium. Both are currently enrolled at Harvard and now find their academic prospects at the university potentially disrupted.
So, how did this political showdown come to this point? And what does it mean for these high-profile students and others like them? Here’s a closer look.
Harvard’s global elite in limbo
Harvard has long been a magnet for the global elite, from royals to world leaders’ children, and this year is no exception.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, heir to the Belgian throne, recently completed her first year of a Master’s in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. But her future at the Ivy League institution now hangs in the balance due to the new US policy.
Belgium’s Royal Palace confirmed on Friday that it is closely watching the situation, waiting to see whether the princess will be able to return for her second year.
“We are looking into the situation, to see what kind of impact this decision might have on the princess, or not. It’s too early to say right now,” said Xavier Baert, the palace’s communications chief, speaking to the AP.
The 23-year-old princess is expected to spend her summer break in Belgium. But with her return uncertain, Baert added, “And we’ll have to see what happens next year.”
Another familiar name facing the same dilemma is Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney . Cleo has just wrapped up her first year as an undergraduate at Harvard, where she’s studying in the resource efficiency programme with a strong focus on sustainability.
She’s one of hundreds of Canadians who could be affected by the policy shift. According to 2022 data from the Canadian Press, roughly 686 Canadian students were enrolled at Harvard.
As one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, Harvard has long been a hub for the children of the global elite. A 2023 study found that at Ivy League universities, about one in six students come from families in the top 1 per cent income bracket.
But with Trump’s proposed restrictions looming, it could signal the end of the road for many international aspirants eyeing a spot at Harvard.
Inside the Trump-Harvard clash
The tension between Donald Trump’s administration and Harvard has been building for weeks.
The latest flashpoint began on April 16, when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanded that Harvard disclose detailed information about its foreign student body. The request raised alarm bells, with concerns that the data could be used to link students to campus protests and even lead to deportations.
Harvard refused to comply. In response, the Trump administration moved to revoke the university’s ability to enrol new international students, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Harvard fired back, filing a lawsuit and calling the move “unlawful.” In court documents, the university argued that the government’s action violates the First Amendment and could harm thousands of international visa holders as per AP.
A US judge has since issued a temporary restraining order to halt the policy, but tf the administration’s decision is upheld, Harvard would be barred from accepting new foreign students for two academic years. Even current international students may be forced to transfer to other US institutions just to maintain their student visa status.
In a statement, Harvard said it is “working swiftly to provide guidance and support to our community members.”
“We’re fighting this not just for Harvard, but for the independence of all private universities,” the university added.
This isn’t the first clash between the Trump administration and the Ivy League giant. Harvard has already been blocked from receiving new federal research grants until it meets a set of government-imposed conditions. That follows an earlier freeze on $2.2 billion in funding and a push by Trump to strip the school of its tax-exempt status.
He has repeatedly accused Harvard and other top universities of pushing a progressive agenda and fostering what he calls a “woke” culture on campus.
Now, as legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of this battle could possibly redefine not just the future of Harvard but also of the other elite institutions.
With input from agencies
Sayli Dhodapkar is currently working as a Sub-Editor at Firstpost Editorial team.