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President Donald Trump on Friday escalated his campaign against Harvard University, renewing his threat to revoke the institution’s tax-exempt status — a move that has drawn fierce legal and political criticism and raised serious constitutional questions.
“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status,” Trump posted on his social media platform from Palm Beach, Florida. “It’s what they deserve!”
The president’s threat follows Harvard’s refusal to comply with administration demands, including overhauls to its leadership, changes to admissions policies, and greater transparency on diversity metrics. The White House has already blocked over $2 billion in federal grants to the Cambridge-based university.
IRS Pressure and Legal Hurdles
Despite a federal law prohibiting the executive branch from directing IRS audits or investigations, a Treasury Department official reportedly began actions to review Harvard’s tax status shortly after Trump’s public comments in April. While the administration insists the process is “independent,” legal experts and lawmakers argue otherwise.
“Overwhelming bipartisan majorities in Congress have enacted laws making it a crime for the President and his staff to request an audit or investigation of a particular taxpayer,” said Mike Kaercher, deputy director at NYU’s Tax Law Center.
The IRS has not commented publicly, and the White House maintains that it has not interfered with the agency’s actions.
Political and Legal Backlash
Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ed Markey, and Sen. Ron Wyden, are calling for an inspector general investigation into whether Trump’s moves against Harvard violate laws and constitutional protections.
“This raises troubling constitutional questions,” the senators wrote in a letter to the Treasury Inspector General, referencing free speech and due process concerns.
Harvard responded with a statement rejecting the threat as “unprecedented and unlawful,” warning that revocation of its tax-exempt status would:
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Reduce financial aid for students
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Undermine medical research
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Stall innovation and public service programs
“There is no legal basis to revoke our tax-exempt status,” the university said.
Part of a Broader Strategy
Trump has framed his actions as part of a larger effort to combat antisemitism on college campuses, a campaign that resonates with his political base. But critics argue that the administration’s approach targets elite institutions for political gain.
During a Thursday commencement speech at the University of Alabama, Trump contrasted Harvard with the state school’s students and football program, saying:
“The next chapter of the American story will not be written by The Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you — the Crimson Tide.”
The contrast between the Ivy League elite and populist imagery plays into Trump’s campaign narrative, positioning him as the champion of “ordinary Americans” against entrenched, liberal institutions.
Additional Measures Considered
Beyond stripping tax status and cutting federal funds, the Trump administration has also signaled efforts to block Harvard from enrolling international students, further tightening its grip on the university’s operations and global influence.
