What Donald Trump Demands from Elite Universities?

President Donald Trump has aimed to reshape higher education in the USA. This recent stance has become a topic of discussion in the USA. Trump aims to impose strict rules in US universities in order to eliminate antisemitism and deport international students who protest against Israel's war in Gaza. He has a list of demands from the elite universities of USA. In case the elite universities fail to fulfill Trump’s demands, they will be at risk of losing their federal funding. As a result, in the past few days, there are several elite universities, including Ivy League universities in USA like Harvard University, Princeton University, Columbia University, and many more who have been affected by this new order from the US president.

Just a few weeks after Trump became the president again in 2025, he dedicated a task force to address antisemitism on the campuses of US universities. Leo Terrell, a senior counsel in the Justice Department’s civil rights division, brings together members from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to address this issue. He stated that the task force is aiming at 10 elite universities in USA. Some of which include Columbia, Harvard, NYU, and the University of California campuses in Berkeley and Los Angeles.

What are the Demands from Elite Universities?

Donald Trump has put together a list of demands aimed at elite universities. He believes that colleges have become overly political and is demanding significant changes in their operations. His proposal emphasizes issues such as eliminating antisemitism, specific programs, and increasing accountability on campuses.

1. Eliminate Antisemitism

In recent cases of events, the USA has taken action against 2 students from Columbia University. Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi participated in pro-Palestine protests. They were asked to be deported back to their country, however, there is an ongoing case. Ranjani Srinivasan, studying doctoral degree at Columbia got her US student visa revoked as she was a part of the protest. She then decided to self-deport. These instances happened as the Trump administration decided to eliminate antisemitism.

Earlier, when protests against Israel’s war on Gaza were ongoing on university campuses, they turned out to be violent. As a result, the US Department of Education states that they were targeting 60 colleges and universities in the USA for ‘anti-seitic harassment and discrimination’. Trump has targeted universities that failed to manage these protests properly. He demanded to manage it further through the proper screening of student organizations and international students. He also demands that universities share hiring data with the government.

2. Eliminating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Programs

Another key demand by Trump is to eliminate DEI programs. DEI stands for diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Trump believes this discriminates against certain groups, especially white students. A statement from White House suggests that ‘Illegal DEI and DEIA policies not only violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws, but they also undermine our national unity by denying, discrediting, and eroding the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of a harmful identity-based spoils system.’ By eliminating DEI programs, Trump aims to promote merit-based hiring practices across the United States.

3. No Face Masks on Campus

Trump has proposed a nationwide ban on face masks during campus protests. This is becase it enables protesters to hide their identity and further cause violent actions. Under this demand, students would be prohibited from wearing masks during protests on college campuses. Critics of the ban worry that it could violate privacy rights, while supporters view it as a necessary step toward restoring discipline and lawful behavior.

4. Stopping ‘Woke’ Culture

The term woke means being ‘aware, especially of social problems such as racism and inequality.’ A key element of Trump’s higher education demands is to cut off federal funding, like grants, research money, and student aid, from universities he believes are pushing “radical” ideologies. He believes that elite schools are suppressing free speech, spreading anti-American ideas, and teaching with a political bias. Schools that do not meet these criteria could risk losing access to billions in funding. This approach aims to encourage universities to rethink their ideologies and focus on maintaining educational balance.

Universities Affected by Trump’s Demands

Several elite universities have come under Trump’s target to revise their policies. These universities are being affected in various ways and are at risk of losing federal funding. The fundings help them in their research work. The following table highlights the elite universities, their response, and potential risks for the university.