“I Compare It to King Henry VIII”: Laurence Tribe Slams Trump’s Legal Overreach Against Harvard

Former Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Harvard University, comparing the president’s disregard for legal boundaries to some of history’s most notorious autocrats.

In a CNN interview Wednesday, Tribe condemned Trump’s retaliatory measures against Harvard, which arose from the university’s stance on diversity, equity, inclusion, and allegations of antisemitism. Trump has threatened to cut billions in federal grant funding and sought to block Harvard from admitting international students a move a federal judge quickly blocked, calling it a “blatant violation” of the Constitution.

CNN’s Kate Bolduan asked Tribe about the legality of these actions, “If this is illegal, how far do you think the president and this administration has gone beyond the bounds of the law here? What do you compare it to?” Tribe was clear and unequivocal.

“Well, I compare it to King Henry VIII, King Edward II not even King George III, who was the proximate guy against whom we fought a war of revolution not even he had this kind of power because he needed parliament. This president thinks he doesn’t even need Congress! Congress decides who gets money, who gets visas, but he thinks he’s got the unilateral power that not even King George III had to pick those against whom he will exact retribution.”

Tribe highlighted the constitutional limits Trump appears to be ignoring. “It’s Congress that has the power of the purse. He can’t just move billions of bucks from one place to another all by himself.”

The Harvard professor also offered some pointed advice to Trump and his team. “Most recently, Harvard made available to every person in the United States free of charge, an online course from the government department in how our Constitution works. I recommend that Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, and all the guys around them take a refresher course in the Constitution.”

Tribe’s remarks underline concerns about executive overreach and the potential erosion of constitutional checks and balances, especially as the Trump administration intensifies its attacks on institutions perceived as opposing its agenda.

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