U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his administration’s controversial decision to block foreign students from enrolling at Harvard University, after the move was temporarily halted by a judge who sided with the university’s legal challenge.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform, questioning why Harvard wasn’t more transparent about its international student population, which he claimed makes up nearly 31 percent of enrolments. He argued that many of these students come from countries that are not necessarily friendly toward the U.S. and contribute nothing to the cost of their education.
“We want to know who these foreign students are,” Trump wrote, calling it a reasonable demand given the billions in federal funding Harvard receives. “But Harvard isn’t exactly forthcoming.”
Last Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard’s authorization to admit foreign students, a move that cast doubt over the academic futures of thousands of students and the substantial revenue they generate for the university. Noem had previously warned she would take such action unless the university provided information on visa holders allegedly involved in “illegal and violent activities.”
The decision was quickly put on hold by a judge after Harvard filed a lawsuit, arguing the administration’s action was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and unlawful.
The White House has recently intensified scrutiny of American universities, citing concerns over what it claims is rising anti-Semitism and a pushback against diversity and inclusion programs aimed at correcting systemic inequities.
The administration has also begun revoking visas and deporting foreign students who participate in protests opposing Israel’s military actions in Gaza, alleging that these demonstrations amount to support for Hamas.
At Harvard, the federal government has taken further steps, threatening to place $9 billion in funding under review. It has already frozen $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in federal contracts and is also seeking the deportation of a Harvard Medical School researcher.
The potential removal of international students — who account for over a quarter of Harvard’s student population — could be a financial blow to the institution, which charges high tuition fees. Harvard, the wealthiest university in the U.S., had an endowment valued at $53.2 billion as of 2024.
