Trump to take away Harvard’s tax-exempt status: ‘It’s what they deserve!’
New York PostAPR 22
Trump Vows to Strip Harvard of Tax-Exempt Status
Above: Demonstrators gathered around the John Harvard Statue during a rally opposing President Trump’s actions against Harvard University at Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 17, 2025. Image copyright: JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Harvard’s own report admits the truth: antisemitism has infiltrated its coursework, faculty hiring, and student life. Israeli students were shunned, Jewish students bullied — entire departments fueled by "social justice" ideology spread hate. Now, after years of looking the other way, Harvard offers weak, last-minute reforms. As President Trump said, stripping their tax-exempt status is fair to hold them accountable and remind every university: federal support comes with responsibility.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump’s push to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status is a dangerous abuse of power, aimed at punishing dissent and controlling what universities teach. Harvard’s refusal to comply matters — it’s the linchpin of U.S. higher education. If it caves, others will follow. If it stands firm, it sets the standard. In this fight, Harvard isn’t just defending itself — it’s defending the freedom of every college and nonprofit in America. Higher education must stand united behind Harvard's lead or risk losing its freedom entirely.
Cynical narrative
Trump’s push to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status is a dangerous move that threatens the very foundation of academic freedom. While his demands to combat antisemitism are valid, the government’s overreach is deeply troubling. Harvard’s resistance is vital to preserve the autonomy of universities, but its delayed response to Jewish students’ safety concerns shows that it wasn’t prioritizing this issue until its financial survival was at stake. Both sides are at fault here, but the real cost is borne by students caught in the middle.