Former President Donald Trump has escalated his ongoing conflict with Harvard University by threatening to redistribute $3 billion in grant money from the institution to trade schools. This latest development adds to a series of actions Trump has taken against the prestigious university in recent months.
According to Politico, the announcement came through Trump’s Truth Social platform on Monday, where he criticized Harvard while suggesting the reallocation of funds. In his post, Trump labeled the university as “very antisemitic,” though he did not provide specific details about how or when this fund redistribution would occur.
“What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!” Trump wrote on the social media platform, emphasizing his stance on directing the funds toward trade schools instead of the Ivy League institutions.
International student enrollment becomes focal point of dispute
The tension between Trump and Harvard has intensified following recent events involving international students. Last week, Trump attempted to block Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, who make up approximately 27 percent of the university’s total student population. This action was initiated after what Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described as Harvard’s failure to comply with an extensive public records request from DHS. However, a federal judge intervened on Friday, blocking this attempt.
Trump has announced that he’s pulling $3 billion out of Harvard to reinvest in trade schools. Good idea, actually. pic.twitter.com/BnSZ2rSVaN
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 26, 2025
Trump expressed frustration about Harvard’s response to requests for foreign student information, stating that they were waiting for lists to determine “how many radicalized lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country.” He suggested that Harvard’s slow response to providing these documents might be intentional.
The conflict between Trump and Harvard began in April when the university refused to comply with Trump administration demands to modify its admission, disciplinary, and governance standards. The White House responded by blocking $2.2 billion in federal grants from reaching the institution.
The situation further deteriorated in early May when Trump announced his intention to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. In response to these actions, Harvard has filed lawsuits against the White House, challenging both the funding freeze and the restrictions on foreign student enrollment. Neither Harvard nor the White House has provided immediate comments on these recent developments.
The ongoing dispute represents a significant challenge for Harvard, which faces multiple restrictions and potential financial implications from these actions. As the legal battles continue, the proposed redistribution of funds to trade schools remains a central point of contention in this escalating conflict between the former president and one of America’s most prestigious educational institutions.
