US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his administration would revoke the tax-exempt status of Harvard University, one of the most famous educational institutions in the US.
“We will revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. That’s what they deserve!,” Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social.
Although he did not give a specific reason for this move, Trump has repeatedly criticized leading American universities for what he claims are “radical leftist ideology”, “indoctrination of young people” and alleged anti-Semitism on campuses.
Harvard has been in the focus of conservative politicians for months because of the way the university’s administration responded to pro-Palestinian protests, as well as because of increasingly strong calls to protect free speech in academia.
As a reminder, American university institutions enjoy tax-exempt status as nonprofit organizations, which includes exemption from federal income tax and other taxes. Reversing this status would require a complex legal and legislative process, including the support of Congress.
