Why elite US colleges are looking to ‘make a deal’ with Trump

New York Post - May 2nd, 2025
Open on New York Post

Former President Donald Trump is initiating a campaign to enforce cultural changes at major U.S. universities, focusing on reducing what he perceives as 'woke' ideologies. His approach includes financial strategies like cutting federal funds, imposing taxes on endowments, and challenging tax-exempt statuses. In response, universities such as Harvard are preparing to fight these measures legally, while others are considering lobbying efforts or even negotiating with Trump using business tactics to protect their interests. One proposal involves universities sharing profits with the government from federally funded research ventures.

The implications of Trump's plans are significant, as they could reshape the funding landscape for higher education institutions, particularly affecting scientific research reliant on federal aid. The potential collaboration with the Trump administration highlights the pressures universities face and indicates a willingness to explore unconventional solutions. This development underscores the ongoing cultural and political battles over education policies and the influence of political figures in shaping academic discourse and funding priorities.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

4.8
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents a timely and engaging narrative about the contentious relationship between the Trump administration and 'woke' universities. It effectively highlights issues of public interest, such as the influence of politics on education and cultural values. However, the story suffers from a lack of balance and transparency, relying heavily on unnamed sources and speculative claims without sufficient attribution or evidence.

While the topic is relevant and has the potential to influence public opinion, the article's impact is limited by its speculative nature and the absence of diverse perspectives. The readability and engaging tone make it accessible to a broad audience, but the lack of clarity and coherence in structure detracts from its overall effectiveness. To enhance the story's quality, a more balanced representation of viewpoints and greater transparency in sourcing would be beneficial.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story makes several claims about Trump's intentions and actions regarding the university system, which require careful verification. The assertion that Trump wants to enforce cultural changes at colleges, such as reducing anti-American curricula and increasing Western civilization courses, aligns with his administration's broader ideological goals. However, there is no direct evidence of curriculum mandates. The claim that Trump aims to financially pressure colleges through federal funding cuts and possible taxation of endowments is partially supported by existing reports of grant suspensions, though the specifics of tax threats remain unverified.

The article also discusses potential university responses, such as hiring lobbyists and seeking legal action, which are plausible but not directly confirmed. The speculative nature of universities offering equity stakes to the government in exchange for federal support lacks precedent and corroborating evidence. Overall, while the article presents a narrative consistent with Trump's known positions, several claims remain speculative and require further evidence for full accuracy.

5
Balance

The article primarily presents one perspective: the narrative of Trump's aggressive stance toward 'woke' universities and the potential responses from these institutions. This creates an imbalance, as it lacks viewpoints from the universities themselves or from experts in higher education policy who might provide a more nuanced perspective on the implications of such actions.

The story could benefit from including opinions from university officials, students, or educational analysts to provide a more comprehensive view of the situation. Additionally, while it touches on the potential negative impacts on scientific research, it does not explore the broader consequences of such policies on academic freedom and diversity of thought, which are crucial aspects of the debate.

6
Clarity

The article is written in a conversational tone that is accessible to a general audience, but it lacks a clear structure that guides the reader through the complex issues it discusses. The narrative jumps between topics, such as Trump's intentions, university responses, and speculative deal-making, without a coherent flow that connects these elements logically.

While the language is straightforward, the lack of clarity in how the different claims relate to each other can lead to confusion. The article could benefit from a more organized approach that clearly delineates the main points and provides a logical progression of ideas. Despite these issues, the tone is engaging and likely to capture reader interest, even if it sacrifices some clarity in the process.

4
Source quality

The article relies heavily on unnamed sources and speculative statements about the intentions and strategies of both the Trump administration and university officials. The lack of named sources or direct quotes from credible authorities in the field of education or government weakens the reliability of the information presented.

While the article cites 'people with knowledge of the matter' and 'my sources,' it does not provide sufficient attribution to verify the credibility of these sources. This reliance on anonymous sources without additional corroboration or context from authoritative figures diminishes the overall trustworthiness of the reporting.

3
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its sourcing and the basis for its claims. It does not clearly disclose the methodology behind its assertions or the potential conflicts of interest that might affect the impartiality of the information. The use of vague attributions like 'my sources' and 'people with knowledge of the matter' without further explanation of their roles or expertise leaves readers without a clear understanding of how the information was obtained.

Additionally, the article does not address the potential biases or motivations of the sources, nor does it provide context for how the proposed actions by Trump could realistically be implemented or challenged. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to assess the reliability of the content.

Sources

  1. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/04/18/what-know-about-trumps-funding-threats-colleges
  2. http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=370677http%3A%2F%2Facecomments.mu.nu%2F%3Fpost%3D370677
  3. http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=387226%3Futm_source%3Dakdart
  4. https://jobvertex.net