Trump’s Education Secretary Sends Error-Filled Letter to Harvard

Ema Alice: Perhaps in an attempt to signal the Trump administration’s hardline stance, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a strongly worded letter to Harvard University. But in reality, that letter has turned her into a figure of mockery across the country. As the letter went viral on social media, many people ridiculed her and even suggested she take grammar lessons.

Ironically, it was Linda herself who posted the letter on X, addressed to Harvard’s interim president Dr. Alan Garber. In the letter, she announced that the university would no longer receive any federal funding. Her allegation: Harvard was encouraging “violent behavior” among international students and showing no apparent academic rigor.

However, it wasn’t the letter’s content that drew attention online — it was the way it was written. Within just a few hours, the three-page letter went viral. Social media users highlighted and shared it with red markings pointing out numerous spelling mistakes, odd sentence constructions, and random use of capital letters.

Critics called it “a case study in linguistic chaos” and “the ramblings of someone illiterate.” One person commented, “Was this written by a high school student?” Another wrote, “Unbelievable — the education secretary herself is uneducated.”

An editor remarked, “What’s with the random capitalization? Did you not proofread even once?”

For months, the Trump administration has been at odds with Harvard and other elite institutions. The administration accuses these universities of tolerating “anti-Semitic” activities. As a result, the government has taken various steps to limit their funding, tax exemptions, and international student admissions.

Continuing this trend, Linda McMahon accused Harvard of “spreading violence through international students” and “failing academic standards” in her letter. She declared, “Harvard should no longer apply for federal grants, because none will be given.”

In response, Harvard stated that this move was retaliation for a lawsuit. On April 21, Harvard sued the U.S. government, challenging the decision to withhold $2.2 billion in federal research funding.

Harvard warned that halting the grants would harm life-saving research and innovation. It described the threat as “unprecedented and unethical.”

Reaffirming its stance, Harvard stated: “We will follow the law, encourage diversity of opinion, and continue to fight anti-Semitism within our community.”