Harvard University held its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday as a federal judge weighs the legality of President Donald Trump’s punitive measures against the prestigious institution, casting a shadow over the celebrations.
Hundreds of robed students and faculty gathered on the steps of the campus library early Thursday, while Trump’s administration escalates pressure on the Ivy League school. The president has sought to bar Harvard from hosting foreign students, revoke federal contracts, cut billions in grants, and challenge its tax-exempt status—all of which the university is contesting in court.
Harvard has repeatedly clashed with Trump’s administration over its refusal to relinquish control of admissions, curriculum, and research decisions. The government accuses the university of tolerating anti-Semitism and liberal bias.
“Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they’re doing is getting in deeper and deeper,” Trump said Wednesday.
Harvard President Alan Garber, who recently stated that “sometimes they don’t like what we represent,” may speak at the ceremony, attended by up to 30,000 people. Garber has acknowledged challenges with anti-Semitism on campus but emphasized efforts to foster open dialogue.
Author Abraham Verghese, set to deliver the commencement address, will receive an honorary degree as crowds don traditional academic attire. Ahead of the event, the Harvard band paraded through Cambridge, Massachusetts, while families and graduates took photos around the historic campus.
Some students, like Franco-American classics major Madeleine Riskin-Kutz, view the graduation itself as an act of defiance against Trump’s policies. “Continuing joyfully with the processions is in itself resistance,” the 22-year-old said.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Boston will hear arguments Thursday over Trump’s attempt to exclude Harvard from hosting foreign students, who make up 27% of its student body. A temporary pause on the policy remains in place.
Harvard’s immigration services director, Maureen Martin, reported a surge in inquiries from foreign students seeking transfers due to heightened uncertainty. Many face emotional distress, impacting their studies.
Retired immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested near Harvard Yard, holding a sign that read, “for the rule of law.” Meanwhile, basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar praised Garber’s resistance to administration pressures during his Class Day speech, likening him to civil rights icon Rosa Parks.
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As festivities continue, Harvard’s legal and ideological battles with the White House remain unresolved, leaving students and faculty caught in the crossfire.