President Trump said Friday in the Oval Office that Harvard will “have to change its ways” after his Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it would take away the university’s ability to admit foreign students.
“Billions of dollars has been paid to Harvard. How ridiculous is that? Billions … Harvard’s going to have to change its ways,” Trump said.
When asked if he is also looking at going after other schools’ ability to accept foreign students, as the DHS had floated a day earlier, Trump said, “We’re taking a look at a lot of things.”
The president also went after Harvard for recently introducing an introductory to math course to address issues among students with foundational algebra skills.
“Where the students can’t add two and two and they go to Harvard. They want remedial math … so why would they get in. How can someone who can’t add” get into Harvard, Trump asked.
“And then you see those same people picketing and screaming that the United States and screaming their antisemitic — or something. We don’t want troublemakers here,” he added, appearing to refer to the international students his administration is trying to deport.
A judge on Friday put a temporary pause on the DHS directive to stop Harvard’s admission of foreign students, scheduling a hearing for next Thursday.
The order was an escalation in Trump’s battle with Harvard, where he has pulled $3 billion in funding, ordered multiple investigations and threatened to take away the school’s tax exempt status.
Harvard had also sued the administration over the funding freeze.
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