[Trump vs. Harvard] ① Visiting Harvard, Now Targeted by Trump: "The American Dream Collapses, America's Future in Jeopardy"

Even Harvard Is Watching Trump...
DEI Office Renamed, Minority Graduation Ceremonies Canceled
International Students Abandon Plans to Return Home... The American Dream Under Threat
Research Stagnates as Subsidies Are Frozen and Labs Shut Down
Trump's "Culture War"... "Anti-Semitism Is Just a Pretext"

Editor's NotePresident Donald Trump is shaking up American society by directly targeting Harvard University, the world's most prestigious institution. Citing the spread of anti-Semitism on college campuses, he has drastically reduced federal funding for major universities and has taken the unprecedented step of stripping Harvard of its eligibility to enroll foreign students. While the stated justification is to eradicate anti-Semitism, critics argue that there is a political motive to brand Harvard as a symbol of left-wing privilege and to wage a "culture war" against the progressive camp. As university campuses?symbols of American higher education and global talent hubs?are now being pushed to the frontlines of ideological conflict, concerns are emerging from within that academic freedom and the nation's competitiveness are under threat. In response, Asia Economy is publishing a three-part series examining the clash between President Trump and elite American universities, exploring its political and social implications.

On the 3rd (local time), the figure of a foreign student can be seen through the gap in the tightly closed gate of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Cambridge=Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

"Is Harvard really standing up to President Trump? I don't think so. Harvard is trying to protect its students, but at the same time, it is extremely conscious of President Trump's stance."

On the afternoon of June 3 (local time) at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the campus?often called the world's top university?was gripped by unprecedented tension as President Donald Trump, who began his term by targeting universities, took direct aim at Harvard. Outwardly, the campus appeared peaceful, having just wrapped up graduation ceremonies and started summer break. However, students interviewed on campus could not hide their anxiety, tension, anger, and concern over the federal government's suspension of subsidies and crackdown on international students.

Even Harvard Is Watching Trump... DEI Policy Rollback and Minority Graduation Ceremonies Canceled

On the 3rd (local time), Seon Lee Cassio, who majored in neuroscience and recently graduated, is being interviewed by a reporter on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Cambridge?Photo by Haeyoung Kwon

Seon Lee Cassio, who recently graduated from Harvard with a major in neuroscience, described how Harvard is stepping back from its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies under pressure from President Trump.

Seon said, "The relevant office's name was changed from the 'DEI Office' to 'Student and Campus Life,' and for the first time this year, the university cut funding for additional graduation ceremonies for Black and LGBTQ students, forcing students to pay for the events themselves. While it may seem like Harvard is resisting President Trump, in reality, it is cooperating with his policies to some extent due to practical reasons such as financial support."

President Trump has cited the spread of anti-Semitism and progressive policies like DEI on college campuses as problematic, leading him to suspend and reduce federal funding, demand changes in campus policies, and intervene in university appointments. For Harvard, which refused to "compromise," he has imposed extreme measures such as freezing $3 billion in subsidies and revoking foreign student enrollment eligibility to force a surrender.

International Students Abandon Plans to Return Home: "The American Dream Is Under Threat... Considering Europe Instead"

On the 3rd (local time), some graduates and visitors are taking commemorative photos in front of Widener Library at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Cambridge=Photo by Kwon Haeyoung

With President Trump now targeting international students, those who are not U.S. citizens are experiencing extreme anxiety. Although a U.S. federal court accepted Harvard's request for an injunction, halting the revocation of international student enrollment and suspension of visa issuance, foreign students, fearful of potential repercussions, uniformly refused to be photographed and agreed to be interviewed only on condition of anonymity.

Eric Lin (pseudonym), a Taiwanese-American majoring in economics at Harvard, said, "All my Chinese friends attending Harvard or MIT have canceled plans to return home this summer out of fear that they might be denied re-entry to the U.S. The entire plans of international students are now in disarray." Having come to the U.S. after high school for a better life, he criticized, "The American Dream is collapsing. If I had known in advance that this country would become so closed off to foreigners and academic freedom, I would have reconsidered studying in the U.S."

Alice Zhang (pseudonym), a Chinese international student, pointed out, "President Trump is trying to control Harvard by sacrificing international students. If this situation continues, foreign students will choose higher education institutions in Europe or other advanced countries instead of the U.S."

As of 2023?2024, international students make up 5.9% of all students at U.S. higher education institutions, with half of them majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). If the exodus of international students concentrated in STEM fields becomes a reality, there are concerns that it could weaken the foundation of technological innovation in the United States.

Research Labs Closing... "Concerns Over Stagnation in Science and Medical Research"

President Trump's cuts to university subsidies are also hitting Harvard's research labs. Given Harvard's central role in basic science and medical research, such a halt in funding could lead to a global slowdown in scientific and medical research.

Seon said, "Following cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding and the freezing of Harvard's subsidies, entire labs are having to completely readjust their research plans. Research activities are being scaled back in practical terms, such as reducing equipment purchases and considering cuts to intern hiring." Ryan Jung, a Korean-American majoring in philosophy at Harvard, said, "Many of my friends in science majors have had their labs shut down or are under pressure to cease operations." Eric added, "The suspension of federal funding deals a serious blow to medical research and advanced scientific technology development. When subsidies stop, cell culture projects in labs are halted, and if the cells die, it's almost impossible to restart the research." He further noted, "This could be even more devastating than the threat of deporting international students."

Carolina Souza (pseudonym), a Brazilian graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, warned, "The United States is a soft-power nation built on patents and researcher-driven knowledge. If President Trump's policies slow down research, it is only a matter of time before the U.S. loses its technological edge."

Trump's "Culture War" Evokes the Cold War Era... "Anti-Semitism Is Just a Pretext"

Ryan Jung, a Korean-American majoring in philosophy at Harvard University, is being interviewed by a reporter on the 2nd (local time) in Manhattan, New York, USA. New York=Photo by Haeyoung Kwon

President Trump is raising concerns about anti-Semitic sentiment at Harvard and other elite U.S. universities, but students largely dismiss this as political rhetoric intended to bring universities to heel. Eric argued, "President Trump is using anti-Semitism as an excuse to manipulate public opinion and control freedom of expression and academic freedom at universities. This is retaliation against higher education, which tends to be progressive."

However, some acknowledge that anti-Semitism does exist on campus. Souza remarked, "Anti-Semitism exists not only in the United States but around the world, and there are such trends within Harvard as well. However, no one would agree with suppressing freedom of expression and academic autonomy under the pretext of eradicating anti-Semitism."

Some analysts suggest that by attacking progressive universities, President Trump is effectively waging a culture war against the entire progressive camp, while also targeting Harvard as an elite symbol to rally his support base of predominantly white, working-class Americans. However, this carries significant risks, as it could fundamentally destabilize the knowledge ecosystem that has sustained American society.

Ryan said, "Many philosophy professors are reminded of the conflict between Harvard and the federal government during the Cold War era of the 1950s. Universities and the government were originally in a cooperative relationship, but the current level of confrontation is historically rare and deeply concerning."

Seon emphasized, "Trump's real goal is to strip universities of the intellectual and legal authority to stand up to the executive branch. Ultimately, all of this is part of the culture war."