Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Trump threatens to pull tax exemption for schools, colleges
President Donald Trump listens during a "National Dialogue on Safely Reopening America's Schools", event in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Washington.
Latest News
July 9, 2020

Trump threatens to pull tax exemption for schools, colleges

WASHINGTON, United States (AP) — In his push to get schools and colleges to reopen this fall, President Donald Trump is again taking aim at their finances, this time threatening their tax-exempt status.

Trump said on Twitter today he was ordering the Treasury Department to re-examine the tax-exempt status of schools that he says provide “radical indoctrination” instead of education.

“Too many universities and school systems are about radical left indoctrination, not education,” he tweeted. “Therefore, I am telling the Treasury Department to re-examine their tax-exempt status and/or funding, which will be taken away if this propaganda or act against public policy continues. Our children must be educated, not Indoctrinated!”

The Republican president did not explain what prompted the remark or which schools would be reviewed. But the threat is just one more that Trump has issued against schools as he ratchets up pressure to get them to open this fall. Twice this week Trump threatened to cut federal funding for schools that don’t reopen, including an earlier tweet on Friday.

It’s unclear, however, on what grounds Trump could have a school’s tax-exempt status terminated. It was also not clear what Trump meant by “radical indoctrination” or who would decide what type of activity that includes. The White House and Treasury Department did not immediately comment on the president’s message.

Previous guidance from the Internal Revenue Service lays out six types of activities that can jeopardize a nonprofit organization’s tax-exempt status, including political activity, lobbying and straying from the organization’s stated purpose.

But ideology is not on the IRS’s list, said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, which represents university presidents. Any review of a school’s status would have to follow previously established guidelines, he said.

“It’s always deeply troubling to have the president single out schools, colleges or universities in a tweet,” Hartle said. “Having said that, I don’t think anything will come of this quickly.”

In his latest threat, Trump revived his oft-repeated claim that universities are bastions of liberalism that stifle conservative ideas. He used the same argument last year when he issued an executive order telling colleges to ensure free speech on campuses or lose federal research funding.

His interest in colleges’ finances appears to have been renewed as several schools sue the Trump administration over new restrictions on international students. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued to block the policy earlier this week, followed by Johns Hopkins University on Friday. The University of California system has said it also plans to sue.

The universities are challenging new guidance issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement saying international students cannot stay in the US if they take all their classes online this fall. The policy has been viewed as an attempt to force the nation’s universities to resume classroom instruction this fall.

Under the rules, international students must transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges plan to hold instruction entirely online. Even if their schools offer a mix of online and in-person classes, foreign students would be forbidden from taking all their courses remotely.

The lawsuit from Harvard and MIT argue that the policy breaks from a promise ICE made in March to suspend limits around online education “for the duration of the emergency”.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Gas prices up $1.94, $2.46, diesel down $3.06
Latest News
Gas prices up $1.94, $2.46, diesel down $3.06
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see increases at the pumps in the price of gasoline effective Thursday, February 12, according to the latest ex-r...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Forex: $157.01 to one US dollar
Latest News
Forex: $157.01 to one US dollar
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Wednesday, February 11, ended at $157.01, up a cent, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exc...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaica 3 – 1 Canada: Young Reggae Boyz book ticket to U17 World Cup
Latest News, Sports
Jamaica 3 – 1 Canada: Young Reggae Boyz book ticket to U17 World Cup
February 11, 2026
Jamaica are through to the Fifa Boys Under-17 World Cup in Qatar after beating 10-man Canada 3-1 in their top-of-the-table Concacaf Group G qualifier ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Health official renews call for Jamaicans to get early screening for cancers
Latest News, News
Health official renews call for Jamaicans to get early screening for cancers
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Assistant Medical Officer of Health for the parish of St Elizabeth Dr Carol Hamilton is renewing the call for Jamaicans to get scree...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Carey McLeod, Lamara Distin get season’s best marks in Europe
Latest News, Sports
Carey McLeod, Lamara Distin get season’s best marks in Europe
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —World indoors bronze medallist Carey McLeod finished third in the men’s long jump with a season’s best 8.22m at the Belgrade indoor...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Red Stripe, ‘Jamaica Moves’ and ‘Wanted Wednesdays’ for BrandCamp 2026
Latest News, News
Red Stripe, ‘Jamaica Moves’ and ‘Wanted Wednesdays’ for BrandCamp 2026
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Marketers, creatives, students and strategists are set to convene at BrandCamp 2026 scheduled to take place on March 25 at 2:00 pm a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Jamaica lead Canada 1-0 at half time in Under-17 WC qualifier
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Boys Under 17 team are 45 minutes away from qualifying for the FIFA Under 17 World Cup to be held in Qatar in November a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
British woman on cocaine rap denies knowledge drug was in her possession
Latest News, News
British woman on cocaine rap denies knowledge drug was in her possession
February 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A British national who is facing multiple cocaine charges was offered bail when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct