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Gideon Rachman

The real reason Trump wants to destroy Harvard

The White House’s charge of antisemitism is a cynical tactic to pursue a broader attack on academic freedom.

By now, it should be obvious. The Trump administration’s attack on American universities is not about combating antisemitism. This is an attempt to bring institutions that nurture independent thought under the control of the government.

For the Trump movement, universities are the heart of the American liberal establishment. If liberalism is to be defeated, the top universities need to be taken down.

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Financial Times

Gideon Rachman is chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times. His particular interests include American foreign policy, the European Union and globalisation.

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/the-real-reason-trump-wants-to-destroy-harvard-20250422-p5lta8