Trump escalates feud with Harvard over international students in new order
By
Sonam Sheth is an Evening Politics Editor at Newsweek who is based in New York. She joined Newsweek in 2024 and previously worked at Business Insider and CNBC. Sonam has extensive experience covering national security, foreign policy, elections, and stories at the intersection of law and politics. Her work has been cited in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, and others. She has also frequently appeared on national television and radio, including MSNBC, NBC News, BBC World News, BBC News radio, and more. You can get in touch with Sonam at s.sheth@newsweek.com. Languages: English, Hindi, and French.
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The White House escalated its battle with Harvard University on Wednesday as President Donald Trump signed a proclamation blocking nearly all foreign students from entering the United States to attend the prestigious Ivy League institution.
The Context
Trump's move comes after a federal judge blocked his administration from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll international students.
Harvard and other Ivy League schools have drawn Trump's ire since he took office in January over pro-Palestinian student activism on campus. His administration has accused the schools of allowing antisemitism and facilitating the spread of pro-Hamas propaganda by permitting the campus protests, which free-speech advocates say are protected by the First Amendment.
What To Know
"I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard's conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers," Trump said in his Wednesday order.
The president's directive stems from Harvard's refusal to submit to the administration's demands to change its hiring and admission policies and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, among other issues.
Trump's battle with the Cambridge, Massachusetts, university has also intensified in recent days after the school refused his administration's request for records related to foreign students' misconduct.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.