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U.S. Soft Power at Risk: Trump Policies Impacting Education, Foreign Aid, and Cultural Institutions

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration's efforts to restrict Harvard University, renowned for its academic prestige, from admitting international students added fuel to the growing concern that American soft power could take a severe blow. A temporary halt on the Harvard ban by a federal judge briefly eased the situation.

However, the president's actions form part of a broader ideological conflict he has fostered against numerous established initiatives intended to promote diversity and collaboration, as well as to boost US influence.

Trump's administration has ordered drastic cuts in foreign aid, canceled or significantly scaled back university research programs, causing worries about a brain drain as prominent scholars seek employment abroad. Additionally, the President has launched attacks on media, such as silencing the historic Voice of America.

In early May, Trump threatened a 100 percent tariff on foreign films shown in the U.S., a move that could have potentially devastating consequences for Hollywood production, including high-profile movies like Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," currently showcased at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Filmed predominantly in Britain and South Africa, such productions attract a global audience and contribute significantly to America's soft power.

Moreover, Trump has cast a critical eye on some of the country's most esteemed cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., which the Republican president has accused of ideological indoctrination, and the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he appointed himself as chairman.

Experts define soft power as a nation's ability to attain desirable outcomes through attraction, rather than coercion, payment, or force. Given the ranges of measures the Trump administration has pursued, many perceive it as a retreat from soft power, citing the president's escalating trade wars, attacks on international alliances, and harm to the nation's reputation as evidence.

Critics, such as Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, strongly denounced the move against Harvard, stating that international students contribute substantially to the economy, support American jobs, and serve as powerful diplomatic tools for the nation. Reversely, they argue that this tactic inflicts lasting damage to the country's global influence.

Every year, American universities welcome hundreds of thousands of foreign students, primarily from Asia. International students account for about a quarter of Harvard's enrollment, representing a major source of revenue. In the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 1.1 million international students were enrolled in U.S. campuses, marking a new record according to the Institute of International Education. They usually pay more in tuition than American residents. India, China, and South Korea are the largest contributors of foreign students, with the primary fields of study being mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

Beijing responded swiftly to the latest move against Harvard, affirming its opposition to the politicization of educational collaboration. The US action, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry, could tarnish the U.S.'s image and reputation in the world.

The Trump administration asserts that American universities, such as Harvard, have become breeding grounds for leftist extremism and waste vast amounts of money on promoting diversity and inclusion. Despite these claims, critics question the long-term consequences of these policies on America's soft power.

The Trump administration's order to restrict Harvard University from admitting international students, as part of a broader ideological conflict, raises concerns about the impact on America's soft power.
The drastic cuts in foreign aid and cancellations or scaling back of university research programs under the Trump administration could result in a brain drain, causing worries about America's influence on the global stage.
Trump's attacks on media and cultural institutions like the Smithsonian museums and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts are perceived by some as a retreat from soft power, given the role of these institutions in attracting international attention.
Critics argue that the Trump administration's policies, such as the move against Harvard and the threats of tariffs on foreign films, inflict lasting damage on America's soft power by alienating international students, partners, and audiences.