Trump suggests US govt may not give more grants to Harvard University

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump suggested on April 30 that his government may stop giving grants to Harvard University, which has refused to concede to his demands regarding hiring, administration and speech regulation.

“And it looks like we are not going to be giving them any more grants, right Linda?” he said in remarks while referring to US Education Secretary Linda McMahon and without elaborating.

“A grant is at our discretion and they are really not behaving well. So it’s too bad.”

Harvard and the US Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his remarks.

The Trump administration has targeted Harvard over anti-semitism on campus during

pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel’s military assault on Gaza

after the October 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its actions against Harvard. It began a formal review into nearly

US$9 billion in federal funding for Harvard,

demanded the university ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, and crack down on some pro-Palestinian groups and masks in protests.

It has also urged Harvard to give more details on its foreign ties and threatened to remove its tax-exempt status and

its ability to enroll foreign students.

Harvard rejected numerous Trump demands earlier in April, calling them an attack on free speech and academic freedom. It sued the Trump administration after it suspended about US$2.3 billion (S$3 billion) in federal funding for the educational institution, while also pledging to tackle discrimination on campus.

The Trump administration has also

threatened other educational institutions

with federal funding cuts over issues like pro-Palestinian protests, DEI, climate initiatives and transgender rights.

Protesting groups, including some Jewish ones, have said the administration conflates their criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza with anti-semitism and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

Harvard University released two reports on April 29

that found many Jewish, Arab and Muslim students experienced bigotry at its Massachusetts campus during protests last year, with some fearing exclusion for airing political views.

The Trump administration has thus far not initiated probes over Islamophobia or anti-Arab bias. REUTERS