U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Harvard University to limit its international student population to approximately 15% to increase opportunities for American students. This recommendation follows a series of actions taken by the Trump administration, including freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding and restricting Harvard's enrollment of foreign students, amid concerns over reported antisemitism and institutional governance.
“I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 percent, not 31 percent. We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, but they can’t get in because we have foreign students there,” Trump stated during a White House Oval Office briefing.
Most recently, the administration halted $2.2 billion in federal funds to Harvard and suspended the university’s ability to enroll international students after Harvard officials reportedly failed to address government requests related to antisemitic incidents and to provide lists of foreign students.
Trump criticized Harvard for what he described as disrespect towards the United States and asserted, “I want Harvard to be great again.” He further suggested reallocating federal funds from Harvard to support vocational trade schools, emphasizing the need for investment in practical education.
According to Harvard’s data for the 2024–2025 academic year, international students comprise 27.2% of the student body, a figure Trump argues should be reduced to alleviate access issues for domestic applicants.
In addition to the funding freeze, Trump highlighted alleged antisemitism at Harvard and other institutions, stating, “They’re totally antisemitic at Harvard, as you know, and some other colleges too, and it’s been very exposed.” He also referenced Harvard’s $52 billion endowment, much of which he says originated from the United States, questioning the university’s entitlement to federal support.
Harvard has responded through legal action, filing a lawsuit on April 21 challenging the administration’s demands concerning changes to its leadership, governance, and admissions policies. Amid these tensions, the administration has progressively cut federal funding, imposed international student enrollment restrictions, and even threatened Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
Trump’s ongoing criticism portrays Harvard as a stronghold of liberalism and institutional bias, framing his campaign as an effort to reform higher education and prioritize American students and vocational training.
