The Trump administration has targeted Harvard by calling for the university’s tax-exempt status to be revoked, a move that the IRS is reportedly planning to enact despite its likely illegality. This action is part of an ongoing battle and represents a significant escalation in Trump’s attack on Harvard and higher education institutions overall. The White House has specifically urged Harvard to make changes in its hiring, teaching, and admissions practices to combat antisemitism on campus. In response, Harvard has stated that it has already taken steps to address the issue and has garnered support from institutions like Stanford University and others standing in solidarity for academic freedom.
In a related story, the IRS’s potential revocation of Harvard’s tax-exempt status is seen as part of Trump’s broader assault on the independence of US higher education institutions. Meanwhile, the wife of Kilmar Ábrego García, who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador, has criticized the Trump administration’s attempt to tarnish her husband’s reputation. Additionally, Luigi Mangione has been indicted on a federal murder charge in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
In another development, Trump publicly condemned Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not lowering US interest rates, expressing a desire for Powell to be removed from his position. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is reportedly a frontrunner to build Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense shield. Lastly, Senator Cory Booker plans to visit El Salvador to push for the return of a Maryland resident who was wrongfully deported. These events highlight the complex and contentious landscape of current political and institutional dynamics.
