Trump’s Attack on Harvard: A Campaign against Science
Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 23 May 2025
by Kira von der Brelie (link to original)
(Germany) on 23 May 2025
by Kira von der Brelie (link to original)
Translated from
by Mallory Matsumoto.
Edited by Michelle Bisson.
It is dramatic but hardly surprising. Harvard was the first private university to declare the U.S. administration’s catalogue of demands “direct governmental regulation” of academic freedom and refused to comply. Since then, the conflict between the elite institution and Trump has continued to escalate.
Trump froze millions of dollars of research funding, ordered a change to the tax status of universities and denounced Harvard as a “threat to democracy. The decision to revoke the university’s certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program is, to a certain extent, logical under Trump’s escalation strategy. He justifies the move by accusing the university of anti-American, antisemitic, and pro-terrorist behavior. The Trump administration contends the university is not a safe place for Jewish students.
That is not credible. Protecting minorities is not exactly part of Trump’s agenda, and the secretary for Homeland Security’s statement on Trump’s latest move sounds more like revenge. “Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. … Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. In other words, either bend to our demands or face sanctions. It amounts to nothing less than blackmail. No wonder it is provoking resistance from researchers who are committed to free thought.
Moreover, denying entry to foreign students at Harvard is another brick in Trump’s wall against globalization. In doing so, he is significantly damaging the quality of research in the U.S. — including at other universities, if Trump extends the ban.
Researchers benefit from the exchange of knowledge with others. They gain access to new ideas, technologies and research methods — all drivers of innovation. Internationalism strengthens competitiveness, one’s own research locations, and the understanding of other perspectives. Exchange is at the core of the very idea of science.
If the U.S. cuts itself off from the globalized world, it also cuts itself off from progress. Globalization will continue, even without it. U.S. universities consistently occupy the top spots in global rankings. But the prospect of isolation from the world’s knowledge is not particularly attractive to researchers. It will probably accelerate the brain drain, the emigration of researchers and scientists. Some, like the renowned historian Timothy Snyder, have already left the country.
The ban on foreign students has not legally taken effect yet. Harvard is challenging Trump’s enrollment ban in court. The university is also suing the administration for the initial sanctions it imposed on the school, — the first university in the U.S. to do so. But the damage has been done. The drastic and impulsive nature with which Trump is attacking basic tenets of liberal democracy like academic freedom and freedom of thought is already rattling researchers and universities and creating a climate of uncertainty. That absolutely threatens excellent science.
Trump froze millions of dollars of research funding, ordered a change to the tax status of universities and denounced Harvard as a “threat to democracy. The decision to revoke the university’s certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program is, to a certain extent, logical under Trump’s escalation strategy. He justifies the move by accusing the university of anti-American, antisemitic, and pro-terrorist behavior. The Trump administration contends the university is not a safe place for Jewish students.
That is not credible. Protecting minorities is not exactly part of Trump’s agenda, and the secretary for Homeland Security’s statement on Trump’s latest move sounds more like revenge. “Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. … Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. In other words, either bend to our demands or face sanctions. It amounts to nothing less than blackmail. No wonder it is provoking resistance from researchers who are committed to free thought.
Moreover, denying entry to foreign students at Harvard is another brick in Trump’s wall against globalization. In doing so, he is significantly damaging the quality of research in the U.S. — including at other universities, if Trump extends the ban.
Researchers benefit from the exchange of knowledge with others. They gain access to new ideas, technologies and research methods — all drivers of innovation. Internationalism strengthens competitiveness, one’s own research locations, and the understanding of other perspectives. Exchange is at the core of the very idea of science.
If the U.S. cuts itself off from the globalized world, it also cuts itself off from progress. Globalization will continue, even without it. U.S. universities consistently occupy the top spots in global rankings. But the prospect of isolation from the world’s knowledge is not particularly attractive to researchers. It will probably accelerate the brain drain, the emigration of researchers and scientists. Some, like the renowned historian Timothy Snyder, have already left the country.
The ban on foreign students has not legally taken effect yet. Harvard is challenging Trump’s enrollment ban in court. The university is also suing the administration for the initial sanctions it imposed on the school, — the first university in the U.S. to do so. But the damage has been done. The drastic and impulsive nature with which Trump is attacking basic tenets of liberal democracy like academic freedom and freedom of thought is already rattling researchers and universities and creating a climate of uncertainty. That absolutely threatens excellent science.
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