Trump's feud with Harvard stems from rejection over acceptance

In the United States, Michael Wolff, a biographer of Donald Trump, has put forth a theory regarding the president's long-standing animosity towards Harvard University. According to his insights, this disdain stems from the fact that Trump did not gain admission to the prestigious Ivy League school, which has been compounded by the perception of snobbery from elitist educational institutions. The claims arose during an appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast, where Wolff discussed Trump's character and his complex relationship with Ivy League universities, emphasizing that Trump's negative views may be rooted in personal experiences. Additionally, there has been speculation about whether Trump's grudge may have been extended to his son, Barron Trump, who is falsely rumored to have applied to Harvard. However, Barron did not apply to the university, as confirmed by First Lady Melania Trump's spokesperson. Amid these discussions, Wolff pointed out the irony that many of Trump's associates hail from Ivy League backgrounds, further complicating the president's narrative against such institutions. A White House spokesperson has pushed back against Wolff's claims, asserting that Trump did not need to attend Harvard to achieve success. The ongoing battle between Trump and Harvard has included the removal of federal funding after the university resisted the administration's policy demands, highlighting the wider conflict between the Trump administration and notable academic institutions. Trump has also framed his criticism of Harvard in the context of antisemitism on campus. The feud appears to embody a larger part of Trump's strategy to dominate media discussions, exercising his ability to maintain a prominent public profile while taking aim at prominent universities perceived as left-leaning or disconnected from his administration's views.