Trump bans foreign students from Harvard, the EU ready to step in

Brussels – Donald Trump’s crusade against American universities continues. The announcement by the White House to ban the admission of foreign students to Harvard University has provoked critical reactions from the academic and political world, both within the United States and in Europe. The decision, motivated by reasons of national security and concerns over possible foreign interference in the educational system, was presented by Washington as a measure to “defend American values” and counter the risk of espionage by hostile governments, particularly from China.

Among the reasons given, the administration also cited the alleged increase in incidents of antisemitism on university campuses, claiming that the presence of some foreign student networks would contribute to a hostile and politicised climate. The State Department spoke of the need to ensure that universities do not become instruments of ideological or technical penetration by opposing powers. Within this framework, the presence of students and researchers from certain countries would be considered a danger. Foreign students who are currently enrolled, the Department said, would be forced to change universities.

The University of Harvard has answered firmly, announcing a legal action against the measure. According to the university, the measure indiscriminately affects thousands of students and risks undermining the quality and reputation of US higher education. The university, which currently hosts over 6,000 international students, called the ban an unjustified restriction on academic freedom and a detriment to global scientific collaboration.

The issue was discussed at the EU Research Council in Brussels today (23 May). The German Research Minister, Dorothee Bär, expressed strong concern about the implications of the US decision and reported that she had raised the issue with her counterparts. “This is a decision that must be reversed as a matter of urgency. Colleagues from other European countries, too, have expressed broad agreement,” he said. Bär emphasised Europe’s growing role as an area of scientific freedom and as an alternative destination for students and researchers considering new educational and academic opportunities in a less predictable international environment.

The Italian Minister for Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, also spoke on the issue. In a statement issued on the sidelines of the Council meeting, she said: “As far as we are concerned, universities have always been and will always be spaces of freedom and cosmopolitanism, places where confrontation and critical spirit are nurtured”. Bernini recalled the measures adopted in Italy to strengthen academic autonomy, including the reform of teacher recruitment and the increase in funding for the university system, now amounting to €9.4 billion. “Italian universities are open to the world,” she concluded, emphasising the Italian government’s willingness to maintain a line of openness and international collaboration. Our country currently hosts over 96,000 foreign students.

China also expressed an official position on the issue. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning condemned the US decision, calling it an example of the ‘politicisation of education’ and an obstacle to academic exchanges. According to Beijing, the measure particularly penalises Asian students and contributes to a climate of international distrust.

The debate remains open, with developments expected both on the legal front, after the case initiated by Harvard, and on the diplomatic front. In the meantime, Europe is carefully observing developments and preparing to strengthen its policies to attract talent, in a context where academic mobility and scientific cooperation seem destined to be increasingly influenced by geopolitical dynamics.

This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.

It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments…
pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem)
May 22, 2025