Trump Blasts Obama-Appointed Judge Over Harvard Funding Fight

President Donald Trump sharply criticized U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs, an Obama appointee, after she signaled support for Harvard University during a heated hearing over the administration’s decision to freeze more than $2 billion in federal funding to the Ivy League school.

Trump accused Burroughs of bias before she has even issued a ruling. “The Harvard case was just tried in Massachusetts before an Obama-appointed Judge. She is a TOTAL DISASTER, which I say even before hearing her Ruling,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic ‘loss’ for the People of our Country! When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN.”

The case centers on the Trump administration’s decision to strip Harvard of federal funding, citing:

• Anti-Israel sentiment on campus and failure to combat antisemitism.

• Harvard’s aggressive promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which Trump called “anti-American.”

• The university’s $52 billion endowment, which Trump argued makes federal support unnecessary.

“Harvard has $52 Billion Dollars sitting in the Bank, and yet they are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America,” Trump added. “Much of this money comes from the U.S.A., all to the detriment of other Schools, Colleges, and Institutions, and we are not going to allow this unfair situation to happen any longer.”

During Monday’s hearing, Burroughs questioned the legality of Trump’s move, claiming the federal government presented “no documentation, no procedure” showing Harvard’s alleged failure to address antisemitism. She suggested the administration’s action could amount to “impermissible suppression of speech,” drawing sharp criticism from Trump’s legal team.

Steven P. Lehotsky, representing Harvard, argued that Trump’s funding freeze violates the First Amendment and would set a dangerous precedent for all private universities. “The administration is trying to control the inner workings of Harvard,” Lehotsky said, warning that funding cuts could jeopardize vital research initiatives.

Trump’s lawyers countered that the federal government has every right to withhold taxpayer money from institutions that show “deliberate indifference” to antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. The administration has vowed to appeal if Burroughs rules in Harvard’s favor.

The dispute reflects Trump’s broader efforts to confront elite universities over their leftist politics, which he says are both un-American and corrosive to free speech. Monday’s hearing ended without a ruling, but Trump’s comments suggest he is prepared for a protracted legal battle.

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