Editor's note: Wang Naiqian, a special commentator on international affairs for CGTN, is a journalist based in Beijing. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Since returning to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited his agenda of retribution. This time, his target is Harvard, the oldest and most prestigious university in the country.

Labeling Harvard a "hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism," the Donald Trump administration imposed a wave of punitive measures. These include freezing significant federal funding, threatening the university's tax-exempt status, and suspending its certification to enroll international students.

While antisemitism controversies have arisen on U.S. college campuses – especially in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump's actions are widely viewed as part of a broader conservative culture war. Harvard, long seen as a bastion of elite liberal values, has now become a focal point in the ideological battle.

Why Harvard?

The U.S. finds itself in an enduring culture war, a concept referring to the deep and growing divides and conflicting perspectives over the nation's identity and values. For years, conservatives have been engaged in a crusade against elite academies, accusing them of promoting progressive values at the expense of traditional American principles.

At the 2021 National Conservatism Conference, JD Vance, who was then a candidate for the Senate, declared, "the professors are the enemy" and called for an "honest and aggressive attack" against the universities in the country. Now Trump's Vice President, Vance's words are turning  into actions. Early in Trump's second term, his administration launched sweeping actions against higher education, freezing funding and cracking down on international students. This came as the Department of Education began scrutinizing some 60 colleges and universities over alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment.

Among them, Harvard has become the chief target. One key factor is its unparalleled symbolic status. As a top-tier global institution and the epitome of American elite education, Harvard has long been regarded as a "cultural stronghold" of liberal values. Its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has made it an ideal foil for conservative critics, who see these policies as a threat to traditional hierarchies.

Another factor, as some analysts observe, is its high-profile stance against U.S. President Donald Trump's demands. Harvard refused to bow to the pressure and let the federal government oversee its hiring, admissions, and governance policies, suing the administration over restrictions on international students.

What does Trump hope to achieve?

Trump's assault on Harvard is less about how the university is run, and more about drawing a clear line between "us" and "them."

By branding the institution as overly liberal, antisemitic, and out of touch with ordinary people, even contrary to American values, Trump taps into populist resentment, particularly among his conservative base.

Moreover, Trump has also sought to pit Harvard against the working class. In a post on social media, he proposed redirecting $3 billion in research funding from Harvard to U.S. trade schools, calling it a "great investment for the USA." As Nat Malkus, an education policy expert, insightfully noted, the message is clear: Trump is siding with working-class Americans over elite institutions.

There is also a strategic economic dimension. Despite being one of the wealthiest universities in the country, Harvard still relies on significant federal research funding and grants, with around 46 percent of its total budget coming from federal sources. By targeting these revenue streams, Trump is using financial leverage to reshape the university's stance on key issues.

Whether through rhetoric, policy, or financial measures, Trump's actions are part of his broader culture war strategy. His goal isn't merely to force Harvard to comply, but to reshape U.S. higher education into a platform for conservative ideology, thereby seizing control over who defines "American values." But at what cost?

The broader fallout

The implications extend far beyond Harvard. International education is the seventh-largest U.S. service export. In the 2023-2024 academic year, over 1.1 million international students contributed more than $44 billion to the U.S. economy. The punitive measures against Harvard could trigger a ripple effect, potentially impacting over 378,000 jobs nationwide.

The unpredictable and politicized nature of U.S. higher education policy is also eroding scholars' and students' confidence in American higher education globally. Evidence of this growing uncertainty is clear. According to the UK-based "FindAPhD" website, searches for U.S. PhD programs in April of this year fell by 40 percent year-on-year, with European student interest in American doctorates halving, potentially triggering an academic brain drain. A March survey by the British journal Nature also revealed that around 75 percent of over 1,600 U.S.-based researchers surveyed are considering leaving the country.

Furthermore, Trump's actions could directly undermine academic freedom and diversity. Political interference puts academic autonomy at greater risk, with a chilling effect on open inquiry and independent thinking across institutions nationwide.

While Trump's actions may serve his political agenda, they ultimately endanger the very foundations of American innovation and global academic leadership. In seeking to "make America great again," Trump is slowly hollowing out the intellectual core that once made its higher education system great in the first place.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)