A Chinese state media report, purportedly from Xinhua News Agency, claims that the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), barring the institution from enrolling new international students due to legal non-compliance.
FACT-CHECK SUMMARY
| Claim | Verdict | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Trump administration revoked Harvard’s SEVP certification | False | No credible U.S. government or mainstream media source supports this claim. |
| Kristi Noem is Homeland Security Secretary | False | Kristi Noem has never served in this capacity. |
| Federal government cut $2.6 billion in grants to Harvard | False | No evidence of this specific cut exists. |
| Trump threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status | Misleading | Trump made generalized statements about taxing wealthy universities, but not specific executive action against Harvard. |
Fake Claim: Harvard Barred from Enrolling International Students
What Xinhua Reported:
“The US Donald Trump administration… revoked Harvard University’s certification under SEVP… barring it from enrolling new international students.”
Fact-Check Result: False
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No revocation of SEVP certification for Harvard University has been documented. Harvard has continued admitting international students throughout Trump’s tenure, including during controversial visa policy shifts.
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SEVP-related disruptions occurred in 2020 during COVID-19, when temporary rules were introduced that impacted international students’ visa status if universities moved to online-only classes. However, after backlash and legal challenges (including from Harvard itself), the Trump administration rescinded those directives.
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No permanent ban or revocation of certification was ever implemented.
Conclusion: This is a fabricated event, possibly intended to paint the Trump administration as vindictive towards academic institutions.
Fake Identity: Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary
What Xinhua Reported:
“US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision…”
Fact-Check Result: False
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Kristi Noem is the Governor of South Dakota. She has never held the position of Secretary of Homeland Security.
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During Trump’s presidency (2017–2021), Chad Wolf, Kirstjen Nielsen, and John F. Kelly were among those who held or acted in this role.
Conclusion: This represents a clear factual inaccuracy, undermining the report’s credibility.
Fake Economic Claim: $2.6 Billion Federal Grant Cuts to Harvard
What Xinhua Reported:
“The federal government has cut $2.6 billion in federal grants to Harvard…”
Fact-Check Result: False
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There is no public record of a federal funding cut of this magnitude specifically targeting Harvard.
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Harvard received about $625 million in federal research funding in 2020, and no documentation shows any sudden multi-billion-dollar cuts.
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Even during debates about COVID-related relief funds to wealthy institutions, there was no such defunding at this scale.
Conclusion: This is likely a fabricated statistic used for propagandistic impact.
Misleading Framing: Attack on Academic Freedom
What Xinhua Reported (via CNN/NYT references):
“…the administration’s attempt to upend the culture of higher education… hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism… ideological audit… violation of constitutional rights.”
Fact-Check Result: Misleading / Out-of-context
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The Trump administration did issue rhetorical critiques of elite universities, particularly over ideological bias and anti-Israel sentiments.
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But there was no implemented federal audit of “viewpoints” nor official moves to revoke tax-exempt status for ideological reasons.
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These claims are based on inflammatory rhetoric and selectively quoted sources with ideological lenses.
Conclusion: These statements are exaggerated to frame the U.S. as suppressing academic freedom, a recurring Chinese propaganda theme.
Propaganda and Framing Elements Identified
| Element | Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Testimonies | Use of quotes like “shameless and despicable beyond words” from a Chinese student | Generate outrage and portray U.S. as hostile to foreigners |
| Victim Narrative | “International students taken hostage…” | Paints U.S. as oppressor, reinforces nationalistic unity |
| Character Assassination | Misidentification of officials (e.g., Kristi Noem) and exaggerated punishments | Undermines U.S. legitimacy and governance |
| Fabricated Numbers | “$2.6 billion” grant cut | Inflate victimhood, rally international sympathy |
| Appeal to Global Audience | Highlighting students from “100 countries” | Frame U.S. as globally unjust |
The article reportedly published by Xinhua News Agency contains multiple fabrications, misidentified individuals, and propaganda-laden narratives. There is no credible evidence that Harvard’s SEVP certification was revoked under the Trump administration or that a specific $2.6 billion funding cut occurred. Additionally, attributing federal leadership roles inaccurately (e.g., Kristi Noem) points to either poor editorial standards or deliberate disinformation.
