Trump considers action against additional tax-exempt entities, criticizes Harvard
In a recent statement, President Donald Trump stood by his administration's decision to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status and indicated that additional organizations might also face scrutiny from the IRS.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump intensified his threats on Thursday to examine the tax-exempt status of organizations and colleges he opposes, specifically targeting a well-known group that has challenged some of his actions in court.
Speaking to reporters, Trump noted, "we're looking at" Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a nonprofit watchdog that has initiated litigation against his executive actions and investigated what it claims are his conflicts of interest.
“The only charity they had is going after Donald Trump. So we’re looking at that. We’re looking at a lot of things,” Trump stated.
He also reiterated his strong criticism of Harvard, labeling the university "a disgrace."
CREW did not immediately provide a response. However, a representative from a partner organization involved in the litigation condemned Trump's remarks.
“Americans' most cherished freedom is that we have a right to say what we believe without fear of governmental persecution,” asserted Public Citizen co-presidents Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman in a statement. “President Trump’s comments threatening the charitable status of CREW because of the views the organization has expressed is a direct assault on that most cherished of freedoms."
“The threat is not just to CREW, but to any and all of us," they added.
Trump's statements came in the context of reports indicating that administration officials have asked the IRS to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, which could result in significant tax penalties for the university if enacted.
“I think Harvard’s a disgrace. I think what they did is a disgrace. They’re obviously antisemitic, and all of a sudden they’re starting to behave,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“But tax-exempt status, I mean, it’s a privilege. It’s really a privilege. And it’s been abused by a lot more than Harvard,” he continued, also mentioning Columbia and Princeton.
Despite existing laws that prohibit the executive branch from directing the IRS to intervene in the audits of specific taxpayers, Trump appeared undeterred, stating that lawyers were managing the matter with Harvard and had yet to "make a final ruling."
According to the Washington Post, officials at the Treasury Department submitted the request concerning Harvard to the IRS’s chief lawyer, Andrew De Mello, on Wednesday.
This action followed Harvard's refusal to comply with extensive demands from the administration regarding changes to its admissions and hiring practices. The government has also frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university.
Republican lawmakers have supported Trump’s actions, contending that Harvard has jeopardized the safety of Jewish students on its campus amid protests against Israel's recent military actions in Gaza after Hamas' surprise attack.
In response, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton stated via email that “there is no legal basis to rescind Harvard’s tax-exempt status.”
“Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission,” Newton emphasized. “The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
Speaking to reporters, Trump noted, "we're looking at" Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a nonprofit watchdog that has initiated litigation against his executive actions and investigated what it claims are his conflicts of interest.
“The only charity they had is going after Donald Trump. So we’re looking at that. We’re looking at a lot of things,” Trump stated.
He also reiterated his strong criticism of Harvard, labeling the university "a disgrace."
CREW did not immediately provide a response. However, a representative from a partner organization involved in the litigation condemned Trump's remarks.
“Americans' most cherished freedom is that we have a right to say what we believe without fear of governmental persecution,” asserted Public Citizen co-presidents Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman in a statement. “President Trump’s comments threatening the charitable status of CREW because of the views the organization has expressed is a direct assault on that most cherished of freedoms."
“The threat is not just to CREW, but to any and all of us," they added.
Trump's statements came in the context of reports indicating that administration officials have asked the IRS to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, which could result in significant tax penalties for the university if enacted.
“I think Harvard’s a disgrace. I think what they did is a disgrace. They’re obviously antisemitic, and all of a sudden they’re starting to behave,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“But tax-exempt status, I mean, it’s a privilege. It’s really a privilege. And it’s been abused by a lot more than Harvard,” he continued, also mentioning Columbia and Princeton.
Despite existing laws that prohibit the executive branch from directing the IRS to intervene in the audits of specific taxpayers, Trump appeared undeterred, stating that lawyers were managing the matter with Harvard and had yet to "make a final ruling."
According to the Washington Post, officials at the Treasury Department submitted the request concerning Harvard to the IRS’s chief lawyer, Andrew De Mello, on Wednesday.
This action followed Harvard's refusal to comply with extensive demands from the administration regarding changes to its admissions and hiring practices. The government has also frozen more than $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university.
Republican lawmakers have supported Trump’s actions, contending that Harvard has jeopardized the safety of Jewish students on its campus amid protests against Israel's recent military actions in Gaza after Hamas' surprise attack.
In response, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton stated via email that “there is no legal basis to rescind Harvard’s tax-exempt status.”
“Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission,” Newton emphasized. “The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
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