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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Did Harvard reject Trump? Is that why he holds a grudge against the university?
Trump's biographer, Michael Wolff, has claimed that the US president's anger towards Ivy League colleges, especially Harvard, comes from the fact that he failed to make it to the prestigious college. However, the White House denied the claims, saying Trump never applied to the 'overrated, corrupt' institute read more According to presidential biographer Michael Wolff, Trump's anger toward Harvard University does not stem from Barron's rejection, but from the fact that Trump himself never made it to Harvard. Representational image Earlier this week, rumours lit up social media claiming that US President Donald Trump was going after Harvard University because his youngest son, Barron Trump, had been rejected by the Ivy League school. But the speculation was quickly put to rest by First Lady Melania Trump, who clarified that Barron never applied to Harvard in the first place. Now, a new theory has surfaced, this time from Michael Wolff, the President's biographer, suggesting that Trump's grudge against the university might be more personal than anyone thought. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to him, Trump's anger does not stem from Barron's non-existent rejection, but from the fact that Trump himself never made it to Harvard. So, is Trump's feud with the elite institution actually about his own past? What exactly did Wolff say? And how is the White House responding to these claims? Here's a closer look. Trump has a 'grudge' against the Ivy League? During a recent episode of The Daily Beast podcast hosted by Joanna Coles, the conversation turned to Trump's apparent hostility toward elite universities. Coles noted how many in Trump's circle are Ivy League alumni. 'It's also odd because so many of the people around Donald Trump went to Ivy League universities. Several of them went to Harvard Business School,' she said. 'Obviously, JD Vance proudly went to Yale. So it does seem particularly odd, but perhaps he's also trying to stuff it to them.' In response, Michael Wolff, who has authored several books on Trump, including 'Fire and Fury, Siege: Trump Under Fire', and the latest 'All or Nothing', suggested there may be a more personal reason behind Trump's disdain for the Ivy League. 'It's important not to lend too much calculation and planning to anything he does,' Wolff said. 'But the other thing is that, by the way, he didn't get into Harvard. So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy Leagues.' A Harvard sign is seen at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27. AFP While there's no official record confirming whether Trump ever applied to Harvard, let alone if he was rejected, Wolff's remark adds to the theory that the president's Ivy League animosity may be rooted in his own academic history. Trump began his college education at Fordham University in 1964 after four years at the New York Military Academy. Two years later, he transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But Trump's academic credibility has long been under scrutiny. In 2020, The Washington Post revealed audio recordings made by Mary Trump, the president's niece, in which Trump's sister, the late federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, made some startling claims. 'I drove him around New York City to try to get him into college,' Trump Barry said in the 2018–19 recordings. She added, 'He went to Fordham for one year and then he got into the University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams.' The White House swiftly dismissed the claims at the time, saying it was 'false' that anyone else had taken Trump's SATs. When asked by The Post to respond to the recordings, Trump simply said: 'Who cares?' President Donald Trump speaks at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in July 27, 2024 in Nashville. File image/AP According to The New York Times reporters Ross Buettner and Susanne Craig, in their 2024 book 'Lucky Loser, Trump' was a mediocre student at Fordham. He didn't even make the dean's list in his first year, which only required a GPA of 3.5, equivalent to a B+. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And while much speculation continues to swirl around his Harvard rejection, what is known, though, is that as a young man, Trump had dreams of going to film school at the University of Southern California (USC). Ironically, USC, too, has now become a target of his ire. After the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights said USC failed to meet its Title VI obligations under the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students, Trump cut federal research funding, causing the institution to lose $17.5 million. 'The Trump show' Wolff claimed that apart from 'holding the grudge', Trump's 'TV star instincts as a producer' play a key role in his legal battle against Ivy League universities, particularly Harvard. According to him, Trump 'needs an enemy'. 'That's what makes the show great, the Trump show. He picks fantastic enemies. And Harvard, for all it represents, fits right into the Trump show. The president loves the drama,' he told The Daily Beast. 'He's done what he set out to do - dominate the headline. What do you do? You go after Harvard in a way that is draconian, dramatic, and existential. It's threatening Harvard on that level,' he added_._ STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For Trump, Wolff added, Harvard becomes just another character in the unfolding drama that is the 'Trump show'. People walk between buildings on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge. File image/AP In recent weeks, that drama has escalated. The Trump-led administration moved to revoke Harvard University's ability to enrol new international students, a policy that has since been temporarily blocked by a US judge. Before that, the White House had also placed a $2.2 billion freeze on federal funding to the university. Trump reportedly offered to lift the funding ban but only under certain conditions that Harvard refused to accept. Throughout, Trump has doubled down on his criticism, accusing Harvard and other elite universities of promoting progressive ideologies and nurturing a so-called 'woke' campus culture. The White House reacts to Wolff's claims Unsurprisingly, the White House didn't take Wolff's latest remarks lightly. Taylor Rogers, a spokesperson for the administration, pushed back hard against both Wolff and The Daily Beast, dismissing their reporting entirely. 'They both peddle fake news for clickbait in a hopeless attempt to amount to something more than lying losers,' Rogers said. 'The President didn't need to apply to an overrated, corrupt institution like Harvard to become a successful businessman and the most transformative President in history.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The White House has previously shot down another claim the author made that Melania Trump had 'separated' from her husband and that their marriage was no longer traditional. The White House fired back, calling Wolff 'a blithering idiot.' With input from agencies
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Biographer says Trump's Harvard grudge might just be a case of bruised ego — and it's not his son who got rejected
US President Donald Trump's ongoing feud with Harvard University has sparked speculation about its origins, with a popular theory suggesting that Trump's animosity stems from his son Barron not being accepted. However, presidential biographer Michael Wolff offers a different perspective, Wolff claims it was Trump himself who was rejected by Harvard, fueling a longstanding grudge against the Ivy League. Wolff, author of bestsellers such as 'Fire and Fury and All or Nothing', shared his views during a recent episode of The Daily Beast podcast. When host Joanna Coles pointed out that many people in Trump's circle, including some who attended Harvard Business School and Yale, seemed at odds with the president's hostility toward elite universities, Wolff responded: 'It's important not to lend too much calculation and planning to anything he does. But the other thing is that, by the way, he didn't get into Harvard. So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy Leagues.' Despite Wolff's claim, there are no publicly available records or biographies confirming whether Trump applied to or was rejected by Harvard. His known education history includes attending Fordham University for two years before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1968.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Did Harvard reject Donald Trump? Biographer claims it's at the heart of the feud
US President Donald Trump's escalating actions against Harvard University may be fuelled not by policy concerns, but personal resentment, according to his biographer Michael Wolff. Speaking on The Daily Beast's podcast, Wolff suggested that the president's hostility towards the Ivy League institution traces back to 1964, when Trump himself failed to gain admission. 'But the other thing is that, by the way, he didn't get into Harvard. So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy League,' said Wolff, author of Fire and Fury. This assertion comes as the Trump administration takes increasingly severe steps against Harvard, recently freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding and suspending its ability to enrol international students. These measures are ostensibly part of a broader crackdown on what Trump calls antisemitism on university campuses . But Wolff believes there's more at play. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Melhore a performance da sua frota [Clique] Sistema TMS embarcador Saiba Mais Undo From USC dreams to Ivy League grudges As a young man, Trump reportedly dreamed of attending film school at the University of Southern California (USC), a plan that never materialised. After finishing high school at New York Military Academy, Trump enrolled at Fordham University in 1964 and later transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned an economics degree. No official record confirms whether Trump applied to Harvard, and his published biographies remain silent on the matter. However, Wolff implies that the rejection—real or imagined—left a lasting mark. Live Events Despite online rumours that Trump's disdain for Harvard comes from his son Barron being turned away, Wolff insists the story is rooted in Trump's own thwarted ambition. 'It's important not to lend too much calculation and planning to anything he does,' he said. White House hits back: "Fake news for clickbait" The White House swiftly rejected Wolff's claims, with spokesperson Taylor Rogers issuing a blistering statement. 'The Daily Beast and Michael Wolff have lots in common—they both peddle fake news for clickbait in a hopeless attempt to amount to something more than lying losers. The President didn't need to apply to an overrated, corrupt institution like Harvard to become a successful businessman and the most transformative President in history,' Rogers said. Still, the administration's aggressive stance against Harvard has sparked wider debate. The Trump Show: Politics as performance Wolff believes Trump's moves against Harvard are part of a broader political performance. 'The Trump Show,' as he calls it, thrives on conflict, spectacle, and enemies. 'That's what makes the show great, the Trump show. He picks fantastic enemies. And Harvard, for all it represents, fits right into the Trump show,' Wolff said. 'The president loves the drama. He's done what he set out to do—dominate the headline. What do you do? You go after Harvard in a way that is draconian, dramatic, and existential. It's threatening Harvard on that level.' According to Wolff, this feud is less about policy and more about keeping Trump in the spotlight. In this framing, Harvard becomes another 'character' in Trump's political theatre. Crackdown on campus: Funding freeze and visa threats Last month, Harvard became the first high-profile target of Trump's renewed efforts to eliminate antisemitism on campus. The administration froze $2.2 billion in federal research funding, citing the university's failure to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, particularly around protecting Jewish students. Soon after, Trump's team barred the university from enrolling international students. Officials demanded compliance with federal reporting and behavioural standards within 72 hours. Harvard refused. The university described the move as 'unlawful', and tensions have since escalated. Earlier this week, the administration directed US consular missions overseas to increase scrutiny on visa applicants heading to Harvard for any reason. Trump has also accused former president Joe Biden of going soft on elite institutions. His administration's stance represents a dramatic shift, framing Ivy League schools as symbols of elitism, corruption, and political bias. For Trump, this confrontation serves multiple ends: it fuels populist messaging, creates narrative drama, and possibly, as Wolff argues, satisfies a decades-old personal vendetta.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Trump Biographer Explains Why US President Hates Harvard: 'He Didn't Get Into It'
Last Updated: Michael Wolff said, 'So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy League.' As Donald Trump ramped up his campaign against Harvard University, his longtime biographer Michael Wolff offered a striking personal theory on US President's animosity toward the Ivy League school. In a recent episode of The Daily Beast's podcast, Michael Wolff- author of Fire and Fury, Siege, and All or Nothing- dismissed the internet speculation that Donald Trump's anger toward Harvard is due to his son Barron being denied admission. Instead, he pointed to Trump's own past. 'He didn't get into Harvard," Michael Wolff claimed, adding, 'So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy League." While podcast host Joanna Coles noted that several of Donald Trump's allies have Harvard connections, Michael Wolff argued that personal resentment and Donald Trump's instinct for confrontation were far more central to his current attacks. 'It's important not to lend too much calculation and planning to anything he does," he said, explaining, 'Harvard just fits perfectly into the kind of elite enemy Trump loves to take down." All of this is part of 'the Trump show", the biographer said, adding, 'He needs an enemy. Harvard, for all it represents, fits right into that narrative. It's drama. It's domination of the headlines. And that's what Trump lives for." There is no official record confirming that Donald Trump ever applied to Harvard as he attended Fordham University before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. Donald Trump accused the university of antisemitism, frozen $2.2 billion in federal funding, and barred it from enrolling new international students unless it complies with a set of White House demands. Harvard has refused to yield, calling the restrictions unlawful. The Donald Trump administration has also ordered consular officers to apply enhanced scrutiny to visa applicants headed to Harvard. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Donald Trump's Biographer On Why US President Has A "Grudge" Against Harvard
Washington: US President Donald Trump has intensified his war with Harvard recently, with social media users claiming that his hatred for the Ivy League university comes from his son, Barron Trump, not being accepted. But, the President's biographer, Michael Wolff, has suggested something else. According to him, it was Trump, not Barron, who was rejected by Harvard. Wolff, the author of 'Fire and Fury', 'Siege: Trump under fire', and this year's 'All or nothing', presented his theory about the US President during a podcast with the The Daily Beast. While the host, Joanna Coles, suggested that many people linked to Trump studied at Harvard, Wolff said, "It's important not to lend too much calculation and planning to anything he does." "But the other thing is that, by the way, he didn't get into Harvard. So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy League," he added. Trump studied at Fordham University in 1964 after four years of attending the New York Military Academy. Two years later, he transferred to the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania - where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics. However, there is no official data available on whether the US President applied to Harvard, let alone he was rejected. No published biographies have also mentioned this claim. A White House spokesperson hit out at Wolff and The Daily Beast for "peddling fake news", adding that Trump did not need to apply to an "overrated and corrupt" university like Harvard. "They both peddle fake news for clickbait in a hopeless attempt to amount to something more than lying losers. The President didn't need to apply to an overrated, corrupt institution like Harvard to become a successful businessman and the most transformative President in history," Taylor Rogers said. 'The Trump show' Wolff, additionally, suggested that apart from "holding the grudge", Trump's "TV star instincts as a producer" play a key role in his legal battle against Ivy League Universities - especially Harvard. According to the author, Trump needs an enemy. "That's what makes the show great, the Trump show. He picks fantastic enemies. And Harvard, for all it represents, fits right into the Trump show. The president loves the drama. He's done what he set out to do - dominate the headline. What do you do? You go after Harvard in a way that is draconian, dramatic, and existential. It's threatening Harvard on that level," he told The Daily Beast. According to him, this becomes another aspect of the "Trump show". Trump-Harvard battle Donald Trump's crackdown on Harvard has taken a more aggressive stance within a few months of the Republican leader taking office for the second term - saying that he is seeking to eliminate antisemitism on campuses. He had even accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of letting some of the Ivy League universities off the hook. Harvard had first fallen prey to the crackdown last month when the White House put a $2.2 billion freeze on federal funding. Trump had put forth a few conditions to revoke the ban on federal funding, but refused to bend the knee. Last week, the administration sent a letter to the university banning the Ivy League's ability to enroll international students amid an ongoing investigation into the university. It also mentioned said that Harvard could still reverse the government's ban and enroll foreign students - if they fulfill Trump's conditions within 72 hours. However, the university refused again. Shortly after receiving the letter, Harvard slammed the Trump administration and called the move "unlawful". Earlier this week, the Trump administration reportedly ordered all its consular missions overseas to begin additional vetting of visa applicants looking to travel to Harvard University for any purpose.
