Trump says he will revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status
President Donald Trump announced a definitive plan too revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, stating it is what the institution “deserves.” This declaration comes amidst heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration regarding the university’s response to anti-Israel protests and allegations of antisemitism on campus. although Trump hinted at this move previously, he made the declaration via a Truth Social post. Harvard’s eligibility for tax-exempt status stems from its classification under IRS guidelines for charitable and educational organizations. However, legal experts have voiced skepticism over Trump’s ability to unilaterally revoke this status, noting that IRS regulations restrict direct action from executive branch officials. Some analysts predict that Harvard might face the loss of federal grants instead of outright revocation of tax exemption, which currently aids the institution in maintaining a ample endowment exceeding $50 billion.
Trump says he will revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status
President Donald Trump said he would be eliminating Harvard University‘s tax-exempt status.
The Ivy League institution has come under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration over its handling of anti-Israel protests and claims it has failed to curb antisemitism on campus. The president has teased revoking the university’s tax-exempt status for a while, but he said he would do it definitively in a Truth Social post Friday morning.
“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump said.
Harvard is tax-exempt because it falls under the IRS qualifications of “charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals” — purposes that may be eligible for tax exemptions.
While Trump has said the university’s tax-exempt status will be revoked, a section of IRS tax code forbids direct requests from the president or other officers of the executive branch. Legal experts have also expressed doubt that Harvard would lose its tax-exempt status, but they said they believed the university could see federal grants and funds halted.
With its tax-exempt status, Harvard has been able to amass an endowment of over $50 billion.
WHY DOES HARVARD HAVE TAX-EXEMPT STATUS, AND CAN TRUMP’S IRS REVOKE IT?
Trump’s announcement on Truth Social came after he addressed the University of Alabama’s commencement on Thursday evening and predicted that those graduates, rather than Harvard graduates, would write the future.
“Congratulations to the Alabama class of 2025, standing here before you in this magnificent arena. It is clear to see the next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide,” Trump said. “They get their $5 billion a year. That is not going to be so forthcoming.”
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