In a bold move, President Donald Trump has called for Harvard University to limit its foreign student enrollment to just 15%, significantly down from the current 27%. Speaking at the White House on May 28, Trump declared, "I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 per cent, not 31 per cent." This announcement marks a strategic escalation in his ongoing efforts to reshape policies at the prestigious Ivy League institution.

Trump asserted that the influx of international students is denying opportunities to American students eager to attend Harvard and similar elite schools. He emphasized, "We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools; they can’t get in because we have foreign students there." This statement not only highlights the administration's stance on foreign students but also raises questions about the broader implications for diversity in higher education.

This latest action fits into a larger agenda aimed at cracking down on what the Trump administration perceives as bias and anti-Semitism within educational institutions, especially in light of tensions surrounding Israel. Harvard has become a key target in this political crossfire, with Trump recently freezing over $2.6 billion in federal research funding for the university.

The university's response has been defiant; Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the government in an attempt to lift these funding restrictions and has secured a temporary court order to block the ban on foreign students. Currently, about 6,800 foreign students are enrolled at Harvard, marking a significant increase over the past seventeen years.

Trump underscored his vision for foreign students, stating, "I want to make sure that the foreign students are people that can love our country." This comment not only portrays a nationalist viewpoint but also raises critical questions about the values and criteria Harvard will be expected to uphold in its admissions processes.

Furthermore, Trump has called for stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status, which would have profound financial repercussions even for its massive $53 billion endowment. Additionally, the administration is also seeking to cancel all remaining federal contracts with the university.

In contrast, Trump expressed a more amicable relationship with Columbia University, suggesting they are cooperating to find solutions. He remarked, "Harvard has to understand the last thing I want to do is hurt them. They’re hurting themselves. They’re fighting." This rivalry adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing discourse around foreign students and their role in American higher education.