Is Donald Trump going after Harvard because it rejected son Barron?

As US President Donald Trump continues his legal battle with Harvard University, social media has been filled with speculation about what might be driving him, especially when it comes to his youngest son, Barron Trump.

Many online users have claimed that Barron decided to study finance at NYU’s Stern School of Business after reportedly being turned down by Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford.

But is this true? Let’s break it down.

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Meanwhile, the Trump administration has told its embassies and consulates abroad to stop offering new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.

In this explainer, we look into whether Barron really was rejected by Harvard, go through what people online are saying, and explain the ongoing clash between Trump and the Ivy League university.

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Let’s get you the answers:

Why netizens believe Harvard turned down Barron

The 19-year-old’s university admission has led to discussions online, especially after his father’s repeated criticism of Harvard University and decisions to pull grants and other federal funding.

Since Donald Trump returned to office in January, his administration has taken a strong stance against Ivy League schools like Harvard and Columbia, accusing them of allowing antisemitism during student protests supporting Palestine.

As Trump stepped up his criticism of Harvard, many on social media began to question whether his actions were driven by personal reasons, particularly involving his youngest son, Barron Trump .

Some users claimed that Barron picked NYU’s Stern School of Business to study finance after being rejected by Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford.

There were also posts suggesting that Trump’s anger towards Harvard came from “resentment” over the university accepting former US President Barack Obama’s daughter, Malia, in 2017 while supposedly not accepting Barron. Notably, Malia completed her studies in 2021 with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies.

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“Barron Trump wasn’t accepted by Harvard. So Harvard has to be punished, according to Trump,” one user posted on X.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island is among those who have questioned whether Trump has personal motives, after seeing viral claims that Barron was turned away by top Ivy League schools like Columbia and Harvard.

“Can’t help but wonder how many Trumps got rejected by Harvard,” he posted on X.

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Did Harvard reject Barron Trump?

Let’s get to the main point: Was Barron Trump really rejected by Harvard?

On Tuesday, First Lady Melania Trump dismissed the growing chatter online, saying her son Barron had never applied to Harvard University.

Nicholas Clemens, her communications director, said, “Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false.”

Barron Trump finished his first year at New York University earlier this month. He had graduated from Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the spring of 2024.

Previously, Donald Trump had said that his son received admission offers from several universities but did not name any of them.

In a March interview, Donald Trump spoke about Barron’s skills in technology, saying, “He’s got an unbelievable aptitude in technology. Barron is a very smart guy."

Barron has also shown some interest in politics. He appeared with his father at various rallies and events during the 2024 election campaign.

Trump said earlier, “He’s a little on the tall side… he is a good-looking guy. And he’s really been a great student. And he does like politics. It’s sort of funny."

Donald Trump vs Harvard University

Last week, the Trump-led administration announced that thousands of international students at Harvard would need to transfer to other universities or risk losing their legal status to stay in the United States.

That move has been paused for now, after a federal judge placed it on hold on Friday while a lawsuit is considered.

Harvard has around 7,000 foreign students, most of them enrolled in postgraduate courses. These students may now have to figure out alternative plans.

According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, this latest action was taken because Harvard had not fully responded to requests for information about its international students.

Noem said in a letter that Harvard was “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.”

Harvard called the move unlawful and said it undermines its research efforts.

Tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard, the oldest and richest university in the country, have been rising. Harvard was among the first to push back against the White House’s demands for reforms at top universities, which it claimed are too liberal and tolerate antisemitism.

The federal government has cut $2.6 billion in grants to the university, forcing Harvard to rely on its own funds for much of its research. Trump has also said he wants to remove the university’s tax-exempt status.

Meanwhile, officials in the Trump administration have warned that students and green card holders who express support for Palestinians or criticise Israel’s actions in Gaza may face deportation. They argue these views go against US foreign policy and label them as pro-Hamas.

Critics of Trump say this is an attack on the right to free speech protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

With inputs from agencies