At this point, it’s quite evident that Donald Trump likes to hold onto his grudges. From attacking his political rivals on social media to calling out people who try to criticize him, the Republican President rarely ever hides his true intentions.
However, this time, many are curious about whether he has a personal vendetta against Harvard University.
As part of his immigration crackdown efforts, he instructed officials to compile reports on the international students attending the prestigious university. He also proposed that these peers should be outright denied entry to Harvard. Not just that, he also froze federal funds for the university and threatened to make bigger changes.
Donald Trump‘s war on Harvard came after the university refused to follow up with his anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies. However, this may not be the only reason why he holds a grudge against Harvard.
According to some experts, he is attacking the prestigious school all because his application was rejected. During an episode of The Daily Beast Podcast, Michael Wolff, who is author of All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America, and Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, solidified this theory.
“[Trump] didn’t get into Harvard. So one of the Trump things is always holding a grudge against the Ivy Leagues,” Wolff claimed during the podcast. Although this couldn’t be proved, many social media users seem to agree with the author.
However, White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers completely dismissed this theory. “The Daily Beast and Michael Wolff have lots in common — they both peddle fake news for clickbait in a hopeless attempt to amount to something more than lying losers. The President didn’t need to apply to an overrated, corrupt institution like Harvard to become a successful businessman and the most transformative President in history.”
Donald Trump himself couldn’t sit quietly after this “false” claim that he didn’t get into Harvard. On His Truth Social, he slammed Michael Wolff, calling him a “third-rate reporter, who is laughed at even by the scoundrels of Fake News.”
🚨BREAKING: Trump confirms he was rejected by Harvard. pic.twitter.com/ESssuh7mre
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 3, 2025
“[He] recently stated that the only reason I’m “beating up” on Harvard is because I applied there and didn’t get in. The story is totally FALSE, I never applied to Harvard.”
He then clarified that he graduated from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Before ending his rant, Trump once again attacked Wolff. “He is upset because his book about me was a total “BOMB.” Nobody wanted it because his “reporting” and reputation are so bad!”
However, despite his post, social media users are not convinced. Some even said his Truth Social rant was a “confirmation” that he was indeed rejected by the school.
Meanwhile, another rumor claimed that the reason why the President is so pissed with Harvard is because his son, Barron Trump, didn’t get accepted. Many speculated that since Barack Obama‘s daughter Malia got a chance to study there, it is only natural that Trump may have wanted to compete with his political rival.
It’s a simple as this.
Barron was rejected by Harvard. Malia got in!
MAGA hates that! It makes their racist blood boil! This is the reason the Trump administration is going after the University- it’s nothing more than this.
Your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/sQ1zieGZ3u
— Lovable Liberal and his Old English sheepdog (@DougWahl1) May 24, 2025
However, Melania Trump has completely shut down the rumors. Nick Clements, a spokesperson for the First Lady, stated, “Barron did not apply to Harvard.”
While it is hard to confirm why Donald Trump wants to corner the institution so badly, one can assume it’s just his way of showing power.
According to a professor who took Trump’s classes at Wharton, he was “not the best student.”
Barron Trump is currently a freshman student at the NYU.
