President Trump warned Friday that Harvard University risks losing its tax-exempt status, escalating his confrontation with the Ivy League school.

His threat comes amid a funding standoff in which his administration has frozen over $2 billion in federal support for Harvard, citing the university’s resistance to efforts targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and its handling of anti‑Israel protests.

Last week, Trump labeled Harvard “a far‑left institution” and “a threat to democracy.”

“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump posted on his social media platform Friday morning.

The announcement follows sustained pressure from Trump for Harvard to obey his executive orders on education or face repercussions. Last month, The Washington Post reported that the Treasury Department had asked the IRS to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.

“Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’ Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” Trump posted on Truth Social on April 15.

White House spokesman Harrison Fields stated at the time that investigations into entities regarding their tax-exempt status had commenced prior to that social media post.

“Any forthcoming actions by the IRS will be conducted independently of the president, and investigations into any institution’s violations of its tax status were initiated prior to the president’s TRUTH,” he said.

Trump took another dig at Harvard Thursday evening during a commencement speech at the University of Alabama.

“The next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide,” Trump said, adding that federal funding for Harvard wouldn’t be “so forthcoming” now.

Harvard rebranded its DEI office this week, renaming it the “Community and Campus Life” and changing its focus to “expanding cross-cultural engagement programs, supporting first-generation and low-income students, and creating more opportunities for dialogue across differences,” according to The Harvard Crimson.

The university has also changed its chief diversity officer position, which has been renamed and will now be called the Chief Community and Campus Life Officer.

On Monday, the Trump administration announced an investigation into Harvard and the student-run Harvard Law Journal regarding their treatment of white contributors.