The letter sent to Harvard University on April 11 by the administration of United States President Donald Trump was reportedly "unauthorized," according to the New York Times, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Accounts of how the letter was sent are varied, though some in the White House stated it was sent prematurely, while others believe it was meant to be circulated among the members of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.

White House Senior Policy Strategist May Mailman criticized Harvard for failing to "pick up the phone and call the members of the antisemitism task force" and instead going on a " victimhood campaign." The university responded that the letter "was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, was sent from the email inbox of a senior federal official and was sent on April 11 as promised," prompting the "recipients of such correspondence" to "not question its authenticity."