Trump attacks Harvard: joke that teaches hate and stupidity!

Trump attacks Harvard: joke that teaches hate and stupidity!

Donald Trump has again sharply criticized Harvard University, calling it a “joke” that teaches “hatred and stupidity” in a post on Truth Social. According to Trump, the university is a breeding ground for left-wing ideologies and has failed to reform its admissions policies. He has called for the withdrawal of all federal funding from Harvard and has threatened to lose the institution's tax breaks. These allegations are part of a broader campaign aimed at combating anti-Semitism at U.S. universities, which includes Harvard under scrutiny. Harvard is accused of accepting a large number of “woke, left-wing radicals, idiots and ‘brains’” into its ranks.

The U.S. government has put more than $255 million in contracts and an additional $8.7 billion in funding on hold for Harvard. This action is part of the Trump administration's efforts to investigate and combat anti-Semitic incidents at schools and universities. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Harvard has jeopardized its reputation by promoting divisive ideologies and is not doing enough to protect its students from anti-Semitism. Harvard President Alan Garber acknowledged the existence of anti-Semitism on campus but emphasized the progress that has been made in the last 15 months. Garber warned of the serious consequences that funding cuts could have on life-saving and scientific research.

Consequences for universities

These measures are not exemplary for Harvard. In March 2025, the Trump administration announced it would withdraw $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University because the university had failed to adequately respond to anti-Semitic protests. Reaction to this approach has been mixed, including both critics and advocates seeking to validate progress in the fight against anti-Semitism. It is noteworthy that more than 100 colleges and school systems in the United States are currently under investigation for anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, particularly following the violent incidents in October 2023 between Hamas and Israel.

International critics have pointed to the situation at German universities, where anti-Semitic incidents have also increased and universities are not taking the same measures as in the United States. The guest article by Professor Guy Katz explains that almost 2,027 anti-Semitic incidents have been reported in Germany since October 7, 2023, which is almost five times more than the previous year. Universities are often hotspots for anti-Semitic activities, while the German authorities have not yet cut off any state funding. Katz says universities that allow anti-Semitic hate speech should lose their state funding.

The gap between the US actions and the reactions in Germany makes it clear that the issue of anti-Semitism at universities worldwide needs to be addressed more urgently than ever. Many universities are certainly facing pressure to review their own course in the coming months and years, both to tackle anti-Semitism and to ensure that academic discourse is preserved.