This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump has been at odds with many players in America's profitable higher education industry for some time already.
Those campuses frequently were the scenes of anti-Israel protests, even protests in support of the Hamas terrorists in Gaza, who slaughtered 1,200 Israeli citizens in their war-launching attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
That's resulted in accusations of anti-Semitism and a demand from Trump that officials running those lucrative institutions balance the equation and protect Jewish students.
Harvard is among those where officials have simply refused to cooperate.
And Trump now has responded.
"Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist-inspired/supporting "Sickness?" Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!" he wrote.
Trump already has frozen some $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts with Harvard, which has been unrepentant.
Harvard President Alan Garber, in fact, said, "No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."
The Washington Examiner pointed out that Harvard's endowment now is in the range of $50 billion, working as a nonprofit.
"Losing tax-exempt status would be another financial blow to Harvard, which receives tax-exempt donations from rich alumni. However, it's unclear if Trump has the power to make that determination on his own," the report said. "Almost all colleges and universities in the United States accept federal funding, making them dependent on the government for operations. Trump has sought to use that fact to gain leverage over how they address protest activity and other functions."
"The showdown will likely continue for at least the next several weeks, if not longer. Two organizations representing the Harvard faculty sued the Trump administration last week over its threats to cut federal funding."
On social media, thousands already had commented, with:
"Then stop taking federal money."
"Harvard can teach what it wants. It just can't do it on the taxpayer\'s dime while discriminating against Jews."
"Be private"
"Then, you can feel free to turn down the $9 billion in funds from the taxpayer."
"DEAL — no federal funding for Harvard, use your own endowment. Let's get it done."
"Adios federal funding. Enjoy your independence."
"No one is telling you what you can and can't teach. Donald Trump is just saying we will not fund it. Why would we fund something that does not align with government policy? Teach what you want. You're not getting our money."
