Trump Escalates Authoritarian Campaign by Targeting Harvard’s Independence

 

Trump Intensifies His Authoritarian Assault on Harvard

In a shocking escalation, Donald Trump is targeting Harvard University with threats that federal agencies may soon be ordered to review — and potentially cancel — all contracts with the institution. According to a senior administration official who spoke to ABC News, the White House is preparing a letter directing agencies to identify any existing agreements with Harvard and explore whether they can be canceled or redirected.

This latest move is part of Trump’s broader war on higher education and dissent. Harvard has been under fire from the MAGA administration for standing its ground and refusing to hand over data on its international students — a principled and courageous decision.

The draft letter, obtained by ABC News, argues that federal contractors must “abide by all federal laws” and ensure taxpayer money is “safeguarded.” It goes on to accuse Harvard of "engaging in race discrimination," echoing the administration's broader attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

But let’s be clear: these claims are a smokescreen. Trump’s goal isn’t justice — it’s control. He’s attempting to bend one of the world’s leading academic institutions to his will, transforming it into yet another echo chamber for MAGA ideology. This is about consolidating power, silencing opposition, and dismantling independent centers of thought.

Agencies have until June 6th to report on their Harvard-related contracts and recommend actions. Meanwhile, Trump’s threats have grown more aggressive. Over the weekend, he floated plans to strip $3 billion in funding from Harvard and divert it to other institutions — a naked attempt at retribution.

This comes on the heels of Harvard’s legal challenge to Trump’s latest executive order, which seeks to ban the university from educating international students — a blatantly unconstitutional overreach.

This isn’t just about Harvard. You don’t have to care about one university to recognize what’s happening here. This is a full-scale attack on academic freedom, institutional independence, and the rule of law. It’s the behavior of a man determined to control every lever of American life, from education to the economy.

If we don’t speak out now, the window to act may close for good.

Retweet and ❤️ if you stand with Harvard — and with democracy — against Trump’s authoritarianism.