US President Donald Trump made a public and controversial comment regarding Harvard University’s acceptance of students from around the world. When questioned in a press conference about the “best and brightest from around the world”, Trump pointed out the remedial math being offered to students who can’t “add two and two and want to go to Harvard”. “Then you see the same people picketing and screaming at the United States and anti-semitic somethings…we don’t want troublemakers here,” he added.
This comes after his announcement to revoke admissions of foreign students in the ivy league university continuing the tiff between the Trump-Harvard administrations. Taking matters to court, the university filed a lawsuit against Trump’s instructions for Homeland Security to reject international students seeking admission in Harvard.
Q: Why do you not want the best and brightest from around the world to come to Harvard?
Trump: “I do. But a lot of the people need remedial rath. math. Did you see that? The students can't add 2 and 2 and they go to Harvard”
Trump's brain is mush.
pic.twitter.com/wjhMId0d8h— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 24, 2025
‘Can’t do basic maths’
The institute recently announced that they will be offering students remedial maths classes. In response to this announcement and the lawsuit, Trump questioned the credibility of the admission since “a lot of them (students) can’t do basic math”. Calling them “troublemakers” he referred to multiple foreign students being detained for passing “anti-semitic” slogans raising a red flag on the Palestinian crisis. Furthermore, he questioned how students without these “basic skills” got admitted into one of the most prestigious institute of the world.
Earlier this week, Trump stated that Harvard would need to “change its ways” following an announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to revoke the university’s authority to admit international students. “Harvard has received billions of dollars. It’s outrageous,” Trump remarked. “Harvard will need to change how it operates.” When asked whether similar actions might be taken against other universities, Trump replied, “We’re reviewing many things.”
Trump-Harvard showdown
The Trump administration had said that Harvard has addressed antisemitism enough and criticised its hiring and admissions policies. These claims were firmly denied by the university. Harvard called the administration’s decision to block international student admissions a clear breach of legal and free speech rights.
The sharp escalation of his ongoing Trump-Harvard clash, the US administration has zeroed in on the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and its response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. By threatening to strip the institution of its federal funding and tax-exempt status, Trump has signaled a broader push to hold elite universities accountable for policies and actions he views as politically biased.