Harvard Rejects Trump Administration’s Demands Amid Antisemitism Letter Controversy

Harvard Rejects Trump Administration’s Demands Amid Antisemitism Letter Controversy

Last Updated Apr - 19 - 2025, 02:19 PM | Source : Fela News

A mistaken letter from the Trump administration demanding changes at Harvard sparked a major dispute. The university rejected the letter, prompting funding thre

Harvard University recently found itself in a tense standoff with the Trump administration following the delivery of a controversial letter from the White House's antisemitism task force. Sent on April 11 and signed by three senior officials—Josh Gruenbaum, Thomas Wheeler, and Sean Keveney—the letter outlined demands that Harvard rejected outright. However, soon after, a Trump official called the university, claiming the letter was unauthorized and mistakenly sent, according to The New York Times.

The incident occurred amid ongoing discussions between Harvard and the administration regarding campus antisemitism. Harvard had hired lawyers William Burck and Robert Hur to negotiate, while the administration was represented by the same officials who signed the letter. Despite the administration later claiming the letter was premature, it has not been formally withdrawn.

Trump advisor May Mailman accused Harvard of overreacting and failing to verify the letter's legitimacy. Harvard responded that the letter appeared fully official and carried real consequences. The fallout has been significant, with Trump cutting federal funding, questioning Harvard’s tax-exempt status, and publicly denouncing the university as a “disgrace” on Truth Social.

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