Kevin Rudd says Donald Trump’s ban on foreign students at Harvard is ‘distressing’

Australia’s ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd says he is working with the Trump administration following its decision to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students.

Donald Trump is furious at Harvard for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology. Picture: AP

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Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday revoked Harvard’s right to enrol foreign students – more than a quarter of its annual intake – in a major escalation of the President’s fight with one of the world’s most storied universities.

The university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, quickly slammed the move as “unlawful” and said it would hurt both the campus and the country, while one student said the community was “panicking”.

Australia’s US Ambassador Kevin Rudd said the decision to block foreign students from enrolling at Harvard University was “distressing” for Australian students.

Mr Rudd says he is working with the Trump administration following its decision.

“We are monitoring closely developments at Harvard University in relation to the administration’s statement this afternoon on the future enrolment of international students,” Dr Rudd wrote in a post to social media platform X on Friday.

“I know this will be distressing for Harvard’s many Australian students. The Embassy is working with the United States Government to obtain the details of this decision so that Australian students can receive appropriate advice.”

According to the Ivy League institution, approximately 120 Australian students are enrolled at the university.

The decision dramatically deepens the rift between Mr Trump and the university, and will force thousands of international students enrolled at the university to either relocate to another institution or leave the US entirely.

We are monitoring closely developments at Harvard University in relation to the administration’s statement this afternoon on the future enrolment of international students. I know this will be distressing for Harvard’s many Australian students. The Embassy is working with the…

— Kevin Rudd AC (@AmboRudd) May 22, 2025

Mr Trump is furious at Harvard, which has produced 162 Nobel prize-winners, for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and “woke” liberal ideology.

“Effective immediately, Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) Program certification is revoked,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a letter to the Ivy League institution, referring to the main system by which foreign students are permitted to study in the US.

The loss of such a large proportion of the student body could prove to be a huge financial blow to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition.

Harvard, which has sued the government over a separate raft of punitive measures, quickly fired back, calling the move unlawful. “We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host our international students and scholars,” it said in a statement, adding that it was working to offer students guidance and support.

“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”

Karl Molden, an international student from Austria, said he had applied to study at Oxford University in the UK because he feared such measures.

“It’s scary and it’s saddening,” the 21-year-old government and classics student told AFP. “I love Harvard, and getting into the school has been the greatest privilege of my life.

“It’s definitely going to change the perception of ... students who (might) consider studying there – the US is getting less of an attractive spot for higher education.”

Last month, Mr Trump threatened to stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students if it did not agree to government demands that would put the private institution under outside political supervision.

“As I explained to you in my April letter, it is a privilege to enrol foreign students,” Ms Noem wrote.

“All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program regulations, to maintain this privilege,” she said.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Picture: AFP

“As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ policies, you have lost this privilege.”

More than 27 per cent of Harvard’s enrolment was made up of foreign students in the 2024-25 academic year, according to university data.

Fourth-year US student Alice Goyer told AFP “no one knows” what the development would mean for international students already enrolled.

“We just got the news, so I’ve been getting texts from a lot of international friends, and I think everyone’s just – no one knows,” she said. “Everyone’s panicking a bit.”

On whether students would willingly transfer to other institutions, as suggested by Ms Noem in the letter, Ms Goyer said: “I doubt people would do that. I would hope maybe there’s going to be a legal battle that’ll take place.”

Additional reporting: AFP