Trump Declared War My Generation's Education

Now is the time for institutions to stand up

The best defense against fascism is critical thinking and knowledge, and Trump will stop at nothing to prevent the American people from gaining it. Now, Trump’s regime has declared war on education.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration formally requested that the IRS revoke Harvard’s 501(c)(3) status. An insidious move that opens the door to not just universities being targeted, but Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, churches, the Red Cross and any private foundations that the administration chooses.

If that wasn’t enough, this administration has targeted students themselves, ripping visas away from more than 500 international students with no notice. All culminating to the ultimate freezing $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in multiyear contract value at Harvard University only after the school rejected the administration’s demands.

Harvard refused to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, ban masks at campus protests, enact merit-based hiring and admissions reforms, and reduce the power of faculty and administrators the Republican administration has called “more committed to activism than scholarship.” (CNN)

Let me be clear: Stripping “DEI” means Harvard would have to give this administration all information on all international students so they can find an excuse to disappear that student. Not just that but it would also strip Harvard’s programs and initiatives to support veterans meaning Trump’s hostile takeover of private institutions would end up hurting groups he swore to protect.

Trump already shook down Columbia University, and unfortunately, they capitulated and agreed to implement some policy changes after Trump threatened to pull $400 million in funds.

What did they get in return for this? Nothing. The Trump administration still has not agreed to reinstate any of their funding and instead formally declared a crackdown on the university, resulting in the deportation of lawful residents.

You cannot give Trump an inch. He’ll take a lap and still screw you over regardless.

If stripping funds weren’t bad enough, revoking tax-exempt status would turn the IRS into yet another a weapon of the Trump regime. While Trump is focused on shaking down Harvard over political grievances, tax revenue is projected to plummet by more than 10% this year.

Treasury Department and IRS officials are predicting a more than 10% drop in tax receipts this year, as compared to last year. That’s an estimated $500 billion lost in federal revenues—the IRS collected $5.1 trillion last year. (WaPo)

If you’ve tried to get in contact with the IRS at any point after Elon made it into Washington, you’re probably not shocked to hear that statistic.

We’ve known for years: Education makes you more liberal. More recently, Kamala Harris won college educated voters by over 10 points because a lot of Trump’s arguments—for example, with tariffs—are only effective on those who are not educated on the subject matter. An Economics 101 class would save you from thinking “China pays the tariffs!” and a high school english class would teach you how to analyze information to dilute the false intellectualism and propaganda.

When you take all this into account, Trump’s war on education makes more sense, and it’s not limited to just private colleges, state schools and public education are also in jeopardy not just with Linda McMahon dismantling the Department of Education.

The Trump administration is targeting K-12 public schools with threats to withhold federal funding while citing gripes about DEI.

Affected schools primarily serve low-income students, and the funds in question aren’t funding litter boxes in bathrooms—they support services like counselors, aides and school lunch for children. Teachers in red states are now realizing the absolute pain that will be inflicted if Trump follows through with all of his threats.

Trump is putting Americans last with these policies, and all of this begs one question: Who benefits from a systemic attack on K-12 and higher education, impacting both private and public institutions?

We have to keep fighting back and spreading the truth. Capitulation and appeasement is not an option.

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