Donald Trump intensifies his war against American universities: on Tuesday, he threatened Harvard to withdraw his tax advantages, even demanding public excuses, after the University’s refusal to comply with his injunctions. The American president justified his position by accusing the institution of supporting “a political, ideological madness, inspired by/supporting terrorism”.
This verbal escalation comes after a decision already fraught with consequences: the immediate suspension of $ 2.2 billion in federal subsidies allocated to Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in Ivy League. The private university of Boston, with a heritage greater than 50 billion dollars, has so far enjoys a federal and state tax exemption, which Donald Trump wishes to question.
“Harvard must apologize”
On Truth Socialhe suggested that Harvard should “be imposed as a political entity” if she persisted in refusing to comply with the requirements of his government. His spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the presidential line: “Harvard must apologize for blatant anti-Semitism on his campus. »»
In sight, student mobilizations against the war waged by Israel in Gaza, which agitated several campuses, notably Harvard. The movement, assimilated to anti-Semitism by the executive, led the White House to claim an ideological audit of teachers and students. In the absence of cooperation, federal funding is cut.
Harvard does not intend to give in
But Harvard does not intend to give in. On Monday, the president of the university, Alan Garber, reaffirmed the attachment of the establishment to its constitutional values. “No government should dictate to universities what they must teach, which they can enlist or hire, or what they can carry out,” he said.
In a letter addressed to the university community, he recalled that measures against anti -Semitism had been incurred for more than a year, and that the university would not sacrifice its independence or its freedom of expression.
The financing of research stopped
Support for this position was immediate on campus. “To face is admirable,” said Gregory Johnson, professor at the Faculty of Medicine. “This is the minimum that Harvard could do. “A student, Darious Hanson, abounds:” I think that more facs in the country should do the same. »»
But the consequences are already concrete: the research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been suspended, including those of Sarah Fortune, renowned researcher on tuberculosis. The Harvard public health faculty confirmed the stopping of work.
Cancellation of hundreds of student visas
In the Democrat camp, several voices greet Harvard’s resistance. Barack Obama described the decision as a “model” to follow, in contrast to Columbia, who accepted reforms deemed too conciliatory. The New York University, however, said on Tuesday that it would refuse any agreement questioning its independence.
Our file on Donald Trump
In addition to threats to the withdrawal of federal subsidies, the offensive of the White House extends far beyond. Indeed, for several days hundreds of student visas have been canceled and many Propalestinian activists have been arrested, although in regular situation.
