President Donald Trump has declared his intention to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, intensifying his ongoing clash with the esteemed institution. Trump’s move to revoke Harvard’s tax-free designation, a status held by most U.S. colleges and universities, is expected to face legal challenges in federal court. Accusing Harvard of being an “anti-Semitic, far-left Institution,” Trump had previously threatened to target its tax-exempt status.

In response to Harvard’s refusal to comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration, including a mask ban and the removal of diversity initiatives, the administration froze over $2 billion in federal funding for the Ivy League school in April. Harvard retaliated by suing the administration, citing threats to its academic independence and research endeavors.

Trump has consistently criticized Harvard, portraying it as out of touch with the American narrative and favoring the University of Alabama graduates to shape the future instead. Despite Trump’s assertions, the process of revoking an organization’s tax-exempt status is not solely within the president’s authority, though legislation introduced in Congress aims to grant more power in this regard.

Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton has refuted the legality of rescinding the university’s tax-exempt status, highlighting potential detrimental effects on higher education in the U.S. as a whole. The clash between Trump and Harvard underscores broader tensions surrounding tax exemptions for nonprofit educational institutions and the potential implications for the future of higher education.