US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Harvard University while justifying his administration’s decision to prevent the university from enrolling international students.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that nearly 31 per cent of Harvard’s students come from other countries, and the university administration has not provided details about these students despite repeated requests from his administration.
His renewed criticism follows a judge’s decision to suspend his administration’s action.
“Why isn’t Harvard saying that almost 31% of their students are from FOREIGN LANDS, and yet those countries, some not at all friendly to the United States, pay NOTHING toward their student’s education, nor do they ever intend to. Nobody told us that!”, he wrote.
Trump added, “We want to know who those foreign students are, a reasonable request since we give Harvard BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, but Harvard isn’t exactly forthcoming. We want those names and countries. Harvard has $52,000,000, use it, and stop asking for the Federal Government to continue GRANTING money to you!”
On Friday (May 23), a US judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enrol foreign students, increasing efforts by the White House to align academic practices with President Trump’s policies.
Harvard filed a complaint in Boston federal court earlier on Friday, calling the revocation a “blatant violation” of the US Constitution and other federal laws, and said it had an “immediate and devastating effect” on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders.
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More Shorts“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission,” Harvard said.
Previously, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Harvard that its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification was “revoked effective immediately.”
“I am writing to inform you that, effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked,” the letter read.
In a social media post, she accused Harvard of “holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
Last month, the university filed a lawsuit against the administration over attempts to change its curriculum, admissions procedures, and hiring policies.