Fact check: Did Trump actually apply to Harvard and get rejected?

1. Summary of the results

There is no definitive evidence that Donald Trump applied to or was rejected from Harvard. While speculation exists, particularly from Trump biographer Michael Wolff ^[1], there are no official records confirming either an application or rejection. What is confirmed is that Trump attended Fordham University before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• Trump's actual educational path included starting at Fordham University and then transferring to Wharton School at UPenn ^[2]
• Questions have been raised about Trump's academic credentials, with his sister suggesting he may have received assistance in gaining admission to UPenn ^[1]
• The Trump administration's stance on Harvard has been notably hostile, with a White House spokesperson describing it as an "overrated, corrupt institution" ^[1]
• Recent similar speculation about Barron Trump and Harvard has been definitively denied by Melania Trump's spokesperson, who confirmed Barron is attending NYU's Stern School of Business ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains several problematic assumptions:

• It presents a binary scenario (applied/rejected) when the reality is more complex
• The question has become entangled with more recent speculation about Barron Trump's college applications ^[4], potentially causing confusion between father and son's educational histories
• Different parties have vested interests in this narrative:
• Trump critics benefit from suggesting he was rejected by an elite institution
• The Trump administration has positioned itself against Harvard, using the narrative to reinforce anti-elite messaging ^[1]
• Harvard's reputation as an elite institution makes it a frequent target for political narratives from both supporters and critics