US President Donald Trump on Monday intensified his criticism of Harvard University, stating that he may redirect the $3 billion in federal grants it receives to trade schools nationwide.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land. What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!”

In a separate post, he said that his administration is still waiting for the list of foreign students. “We are still waiting for the Foreign Student Lists from Harvard so that we can determine, after a ridiculous expenditure of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, how many radicalised lunatics, troublemakers all, should not be let back into our Country. Harvard is very slow in the presentation of these documents, and probably for good reason! The best thing Harvard has going for it is that they have shopped around and found the absolute best Judge (for them!) – But have no fear, the Government will, in the end, WIN!”

In the US, trade schools focus on teaching practical skills for specific trades or professions.

Trump’s latest remarks follow an earlier attempt to block Harvard from enroling international students. He has accused the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus.

The Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of ties to the Chinese Communist Party, contending the school had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

However, a federal judge last week blocked the Trump administration from cutting off Harvard’s enrolment of foreign students. In its lawsuit filed last Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and would have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.”

“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body—international students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission,” Harvard said in the suit. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”

US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a ruling pausing the sanctions, pending litigation. Harvard currently enrols about 6,800 foreign students — mostly graduate-level — representing over 100 countries.

The threat to Harvard’s international enrolment began with an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation.

With inputs from Associated Press

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