Trump Threatens Harvard's Tax Exempt Status Amid DEI Controversy
President Trump intensifies his conflict with Harvard by seeking to revoke its tax-exempt status over diversity policies and pro-Palestinian protests.
Weaponizing the tax code against political opponents is a dangerous precedent to set for future administrations.
Trump threatens to revoke Harvard’s tax exempt status
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But Harvard has been a focal point for his public ire, particularly after school leaders refused a list of demands the Trump administration sent on April 11.
Donald Trump renews threats against Harvard University’s tax exempt status
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This fails to fill us — or a number of others watching this story — with confidence.
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Federal funding exceeds the $2.4 billion distributed by Harvard’s endowment for the fiscal year ending in June 2024, which made up nearly 40% of the institution’s total operating revenue.
Trump is Revoking Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status
TIME Magazine·1d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.Removing tax-exempt status would significantly increase Harvard’s tax burden.
Harvard: Trump Lacks 'Legal Basis' to Yank Tax-Exempt Status
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Trump responded by freezing $2.2bn in grants and $60m in contracts to the university.
Trump repeats legally dubious threat to ‘take away’ Harvard’s tax-exempt status
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Trump's comments marked the latest volley in a battle between the Trump administration and the wealthiest college in the world.
Trump again threatens Harvard's tax-exempt status, saying, 'It's what they deserve!'
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The White House has threatened to pull funding from Ivy League schools over alleged anti-Semitism at campuses and for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, among other measures.
Trump Announces Plan to Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status
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The Trump administration has cracked down aggressively on elite universities in the U.S. through his first 100 days in office, freezing funding and threatening further action unless university administrators take on antisemitism on campus and cut DEI.
‘What They Deserve’: Harvard Will Lose Its Tax Exempt Status, Trump Says
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The federal government froze funding to Harvard after the school said it wouldn't comply with "critical reforms" called for by the Trump administration.
Trump says he will revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status
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The intensifying standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard is part of a broad pressure campaign by the administration against some of the nation’s most elite universities.
Trump says he’s ‘taking away’ Harvard’s tax-exempt status
Boston Globe·1d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.Trump’s battle against Harvard is part of a broader campaign the administration is framing as an effort to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
Trump re-ups his threat to strip Harvard University's tax-exempt status
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Legal experts have also expressed doubt that Harvard would lose its tax-exempt status, but they said they believed the university could see federal grants and funds halted.
Trump says he will revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status
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Trump has increasingly made the elite university a go-to punching bag.
Trump says he's revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status: 'It's what they deserve!'
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Mr. Trump's decision is the latest in a series of moves targeting the university.
Trump says his administration is revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status
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Harvard University could be stripped of its tax-exempt status.
Trump vows to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status
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Harvard has emerged as the Trump administration’s most high-profile foe after the White House’s Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism last month announced a freeze of more than $2 billion in its federal research funding.
Trump repeats that the government will revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status
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The decision will likely face legal challenges.
Trump says he's 'taking away' Harvard's tax exempt status
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Harvard has become a target of Trump’s broader crackdown on universities, much of which is in response to last year’s anti-Israel unrest that erupted on campuses across the country.
Trump says he’ll revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status
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Summary
President Trump has escalated his conflict with Harvard University by threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status, claiming it’s deserved due to the school’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests and its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. His administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in federal funding, leading Harvard to sue, asserting First Amendment violations. Harvard claims the move would severely impact its financial operations. Responses include accusations from Democrats of weaponizing the IRS, while some Republicans support Trump's actions. Notably, Harvard recently renamed its DEI office, suggesting a potential softening of its stance.
Perspectives
Trump has reiterated his threat to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, a tactic viewed as retaliation against the university's defiance of the administration's demands.
The administration has frozen over $2 billion in federal support for Harvard, citing the school's alleged failure to address antisemitism, which Harvard disputes in their ongoing legal battle against the government.
Harvard maintains that the potential revocation of its tax-exempt status endangers its educational mission and legal experts question the administration's authority to make such demands.
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