Despite being an Ivy League graduate himself, President Donald Trump has long harbored a deep-seated animosity towards these prestigious institutions. His recent actions against Columbia and Harvard have brought this issue to the forefront, but the roots of his resentment run much deeper. According to Trump’s former aide, the president’s disdain for the Ivy League can be traced back to a series of embarrassing rejections he faced during his career.
Alan Marcus, a business and political consultant who managed Trump’s public relations from 1994 to 2000, revealed in a recent interview with the New York Times that he had attempted to secure a college commencement address or an honorary degree for Trump from several Ivy League institutions. This was during a tumultuous period in the 1990s when Trump’s companies were struggling with multiple bankruptcies. However, his efforts were met with derision and rejection.
“I got essentially laughed at,” Marcus said. “They don’t return the love to him,” he added, highlighting the stark contrast between Trump’s self-perception and the Ivy League’s view of him. Despite Trump’s Wharton business degree from the University of Pennsylvania, he never received an honorary degree from his alma mater, nor was he ever invited to deliver a commencement address. This stands in stark contrast to other notable figures like former President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, who have been honored by these institutions.
Trump’s relationship with the Ivy League has always been fraught. He was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania as a transfer student from Fordham University in 1966. James T. Nolan, who interviewed Trump for his college admission, recalled that Trump was not particularly outgoing and had a high B average from Fordham. Nolan noted that at the time, it was not very difficult to gain admission to an Ivy League school. Trump, however, was a loner on campus and frequently returned to New York to assist his father in the family business.
Since graduating from Penn, Trump has often cited his Wharton degree as proof of his intelligence and business acumen. Yet, the Ivy League institutions have consistently failed to embrace him. This rejection has seemingly fueled his animosity towards these elite universities, which he now criticizes as citadels of antisemitism and elitism.
Interestingly, Trump’s cabinet has included several Ivy League graduates, such as JD Vance and Pete Hegseth, indicating a complex relationship between his personal views and his political appointments. Despite his public animosity, Trump has not shied away from leveraging the Ivy League’s prestige when it suits his purposes.
The recent actions against Columbia and Harvard have reignited the debate over Trump’s stance on the Ivy League. While some see his actions as a continuation of his long-standing grudge, others argue that it reflects a broader political strategy aimed at appealing to his base. Regardless of the motivations, Trump’s complicated relationship with the Ivy League remains a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of his political persona.
