Trump administration ramps up attack on Harvard, Columbia
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump ramped up his campaign against top US universities Wednesday, banning visas for all foreign students coming to attend Harvard and threatening to strip Columbia of its academic accreditation.
Trump is seeking to bring the universities to heel with claims their international students pose a national security threat, and that they ignored anti-Semitism on campus and perpetuate liberal bias.
A proclamation issued by the White House late Wednesday declared that the entrance of international students to begin a course at Harvard would be 'suspended and limited' for six months and that existing overseas enrollees could have their visas terminated.
'Harvard's conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers,' the order said.
Karl Molden, a Harvard government and classics student from Austria, said: 'I'm trembling. This is outrageous.'
'He is abusing his executive power to harm Harvard as much as he can,' Molden told AFP.
'My god!' said another international student at Harvard, who declined to be identified for fear of retribution.
'This is such a disgrace.'
China's foreign ministry vowed on Thursday to 'resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its overseas students.'
'China has always opposed the politicization of educational cooperation,' ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, adding that the measure would 'harm America's image and international credibility.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised last week to 'aggressively revoke visas' for Chinese students, a move condemned by Beijing.
Wednesday's announcement followed the Trump administration's earlier efforts to terminate Harvard's right to enroll and host foreign students were stalled by a judge.
The government already cut around $3.2 billion of federal grants and contracts benefiting Harvard and pledged to exclude the Cambridge, Massachusetts, institution from any future federal funding.
Harvard has been at the forefront of Trump's campaign against top universities after it defied his calls to submit to oversight of its curriculum, staffing, student recruitment and 'viewpoint diversity.'
Trump has also singled out international students at Harvard, who accounted for 27 percent of total enrollment in the 2024-2025 academic year and are a major source of income.
'This is yet another illegal retaliatory step taken by the Administration in violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights,' a university spokesman said.
'Harvard will continue to protect its international students.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Bilawal urges Trump to mediate talks between Pakistan, India over Kashmir
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan and current head of the Pakistan People's Party, leads a delegation to Washington, which played a key mediatory role in a ceasefire after Pakistan's conflict with India in May. Photo: AFP Listen to article Heading the Parliamentary Diplomatic Committee, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called on US President Donald Trump to play a role in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India. In an interview with AFP, Bilawal urged US President Donald Trump to play an active role in bringing India to the negotiating table for comprehensive talks with Pakistan. He stated that while Pakistan is open to discussions on terrorism, the central issue of any meaningful dialogue must be the Kashmir conflict. He highlighted the growing dangers posed by India, which used terrorism as a justification for military action, potentially destabilising the entire South Asian region. "The destiny of 1.7 billion people cannot be left to faceless non-state actors or India's so-called new normal," he warned. In a separate interview with Chinese media, Bilawal called out India for deliberately undermining regional peace through unilateral aggression on Pakistani soil. He stressed that the Pakistani community in the US must unite and contribute to shared goals of peace and prosperity. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peace and dialogue, emphasising the country's role as a responsible actor amid rising tensions. The former FM appealed to the international community to support efforts for peace, noting that lasting stability in South Asia hinges on inclusive dialogue. A peaceful South Asia, with normalised trade relations between India and Pakistan, would bring widespread benefits to the region and beyond, he added. Bilawal further acknowledged the sacrifices made by Pakistan's military leadership in the ongoing fight against terrorism. "We have consistently taken steps toward peace, while India continues its aggression," he said. "If India escalates the situation, Pakistan retains the right to respond accordingly." He also addressed the issue of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Balochistan, supporting terrorist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and th Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He questioned whether this would lead to an ongoing cycle of conflict after every terrorist attack, given India's approach. Read more: India laying ground for 'first nuclear water war', says Bilawal Meanwhile, Bilawal held meetings with key figures, including Senator Tom Cotton, Congress members Liu Correa and Brian Mast, and senior officials from the US Department of Homeland Security. These discussions focused on regional cooperation, the Kashmir dispute, and the broader implications for US-Pakistan relations. During a talk at the Middle East Institute in Washington, he underscored the urgent need for the resolution of long-standing conflicts in the region. He reiterated Pakistan's willingness to engage in discussions on Kashmir, terrorism, and water issues, but emphasized the need for the US to act as a mediator to advance the dialogue. He pointed out that India's actions in Kashmir have violated international agreements and UN resolutions. He commended the recent US efforts in offering to mediate, which has re-internationalised the Kashmir issue, disproving India's narrative that Kashmir is a bilateral matter. He further stressed that Pakistan condemns terrorism and firmly rejects any involvement in recent incidents in Kashmir, calling for impartial international investigations, which India has so far rejected. Bilawal also raised concerns over India's threat to disrupt Pakistan's water supply under the Indus Water Treaty, describing this as a potential trigger for war. He urged the US and the international community to intervene and prevent this dangerous trend, warning of its catastrophic consequences for the entire region. Also read: South Asia at brink over Kashmir and Indus Water Treaty, Bilawal warns US lawmakers Reflecting on the recent conflict with India, he highlighted Pakistan's military victories, including the shooting down of Indian aircraft. He noted that, at the diplomatic level, the world has once again recognised the importance of Pakistan-India relations. He expressed hope for future cooperation between India and Pakistan, particularly in the areas of trade, water security, and environmental challenges like flooding and drought. He also proposed the possibility of an India-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which could enhance bilateral prosperity while benefiting regional and global stakeholders, particularly the US. Bilawal concluded the mission with a strong call for international support in ensuring lasting peace and stability in South Asia, stressing that both Pakistan and India must prioritise dialogue and cooperation to address shared challenges and secure a prosperous future for the region. Other members of the parliamentary delegation thanked the US for its positive response and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peaceful resolutions of all unresolved issues. They also urged global leaders to support this critical diplomatic mission.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
US imposes new sanctions on Iran, targeting 10 individuals and 27 entities
Listen to article The US has issued a new round of Iran-related sanctions targeting 10 individuals and 27 entities, including at least two companies it said were linked to Iran's national tanker company, the US Treasury Department said on Friday. The sanctions, which target Iranian nationals and some entities in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, were announced as US President Donald Trump's administration is working to get a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added Ace Petrochem FZE, and Moderate General Trading LLC, both registered in the UAE, to its Specially Designated Nationals List, freezing any of their US assets. OFAC said they are both linked to the state-owned National Iranian Tanker Company which is under US sanctions for exporting oil. Talks between Iran and the US that aim to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions have been stuck over disagreements about uranium enrichment. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
TSX set for record high after US jobs data, trade optimism
Canada's main stock index was headed for a record high on Friday, as a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report and signs of easing trade tensions between Washington and China fueled investor optimism. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.6% at 26,486.37 points. The index was set to eclipse Tuesday's record closing high of 26,426.64 if gains hold. U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 jobs last month, data released on Friday showed, while economists polled by Reuters had expected a job growth of 130,000. Meanwhile, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Friday that a planned meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials on trade is expected within seven days, giving hope that the trade war between the world's two largest economies might de-escalate. Separately, China on Friday called to improve bilateral ties with Canada. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump had doubled tariffs on imports on steel and aluminum. TSX edges higher amid US-China trade talks and upcoming jobs data 'It's just a ploy to get everyone to the table and to try to make a deal,' said Michael Constantino, CEO of online investment platform Webull Canada. Canada's Industry Minister Melanie Joly said on Thursday that Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump are in direct communication as part of Ottawa's bid to persuade Washington to lift tariffs. 'I think the prime minister of Canada and President Trump will at some point come together and do what's best for both countries,' Constantino said. Canada's unemployment rate in May jumped to its highest level in almost nine years, excluding the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. On TSX, information and technology stocks gained 1.4% on Friday, tracking gains in tech-heavy Nasdaq index. Energy subindex gained 1.3% as oil prices rose slightly and were on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks.
