Harvard students protest as Trump targets International Scholars, University funding

Tensions escalated at Harvard University on Tuesday as students staged a large protest against the US government’s latest crackdown on international students and academic freedom under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The protest erupted after the administration announced plans to terminate all remaining financial contracts with Harvard — a move valued at an estimated $100 million — in what has become a sweeping campaign against elite educational institutions.

At the heart of the controversy is a decision by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend the processing of student visas nationwide. A government cable obtained by AFP instructed embassies and consulates to halt all student and exchange visa appointments, as the administration plans tighter scrutiny of international applicants’ social media activity.

This policy shift comes as part of a wider effort to target international students accused by the administration of participating in anti-war protests over the conflict in Gaza and allegedly sympathizing with Palestinian militant groups — accusations many have dismissed as unfounded and politically motivated.

The backlash on Harvard’s campus was immediate and forceful. Students gathered holding signs that read “Trump = traitor” and chanting slogans in defense of their international peers whose immigration statuses and academic futures hang in the balance.

The administration’s justification for the measures included allegations that elite schools like Harvard have become centers of anti-American sentiment. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said public funds would be better directed towards vocational schools and programs focused on “American values” and trades such as plumbing and electrical work, while criticizing liberal academic programs.

Harvard has already mounted several legal challenges against the administration’s moves, particularly targeting the decision to revoke the university’s accreditation to admit international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order pending a hearing on Thursday — the same day as Harvard’s commencement ceremonies.

Speaking at the protest, students voiced fears about the far-reaching implications of these policies. “All my international friends and professors are at risk of deportation or being forced to transfer,” said Alice Goyer, a protesting student.

Observers believe this legal battle is likely to escalate. Legal experts like Albany Law School professor Ray Brescia argue the administration’s moves are so legally flawed that higher courts would likely overturn them if challenged on appeal.

Despite the legal hurdles, Trump remains defiant, claiming many of Harvard’s international students are “radicalized lunatics, troublemakers,” as he continues what critics call an unprecedented assault on American academic institutions.

Meanwhile, Harvard alumni and advocacy groups like Crimson Courage are rallying resources, legal aid, and public support, promising to fight back against what they describe as an attack on academic freedom and diversity in higher education.