Trump Threatens Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status Over Protest Controversy

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LMSINT MEDIA reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Harvard University, stating he may seek to remove its tax-exempt status following the school’s refusal to comply with federal demands regarding campus demonstrations and academic changes.

On Tuesday, Trump posted on social media criticizing Harvard’s stance, saying the institution promotes “ideological and terrorist-supporting sickness.” This comment came after the university dismissed government calls to reform its academic programming or risk losing access to federal grants—a move Harvard labeled as unlawful.

“Harvard needs to apologize for the antisemitism happening on its campus,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary.

Background: Trump’s Clash with Universities

The Trump administration has consistently voiced concerns over how elite universities such as Columbia and Harvard have handled the pro-Palestinian student protest wave. These demonstrations intensified after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military actions in Gaza.

Trump described the protests as anti-American and antisemitic, accusing universities of spreading Marxist and radical left ideologies. He vowed to terminate federal grants and contracts to institutions that refuse to align with his administration’s position on these matters.

Legal Context: Can Trump Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status?

Under the U.S. Tax Code, educational institutions like Harvard are generally exempt from federal income tax because they are classified as public-serving entities. While Trump made the threat, he did not specify how he intends to implement the move legally.

According to IRS guidelines, revoking a university’s tax-exempt status would require substantial legal procedures and proof that the institution no longer serves an educational purpose.

Related: Understanding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

Leavitt further accused Harvard and similar institutions of breaching Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination in programs receiving federal funding based on race or national origin. However, any enforcement actions such as funding termination require detailed investigations, formal hearings, and notification to Congress—none of which have been initiated at this point for Harvard or Columbia.

Also read: What Does a Ceasefire Mean? – Full Guide