U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Harvard University, branding the Ivy League institution a “joke” and demanding it be stripped of federal funding for allegedly promoting “hate” and “stupidity.”
In a fiery post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared:
“Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”
His remarks mark the latest in a series of escalating attacks on elite academic institutions, which he accuses of fostering ideological bias and undermining traditional American values. Harvard, in particular, has clashed with Trump-aligned officials over issues such as academic independence and federal oversight.
“Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning and should not be listed among the world’s great universities or colleges,” Trump added.
Earlier this week, Trump threatened to revoke the university’s nonprofit status and freeze more than $2.2 billion in federal funding. He also called for sweeping reforms to its admissions and hiring policies, along with mandatory audits of academic programs.
In response, Harvard President Alan Garber issued a strong statement defending the university’s autonomy: “We will not negotiate over our independence or our constitutional rights,” he said.
The Trump administration claims its push for accountability is tied to a spike in antisemitic incidents on college campuses, which they link to pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
However, critics argue that the crackdown is politically motivated and threatens academic freedom and diversity initiatives.
This latest clash follows similar threats made by the administration against multiple universities over their race-conscious admissions policies and inclusion programs—part of a broader push to reshape higher education’s cultural landscape.
