PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Donald Trump frequently touts his education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, but questions remain about his academic performance and experiences at the Ivy League institution. told by Huff Post.
During a recent presidential debate against Kamala Harris, Trump once again boasted about his time at Wharton and claimed his economic plans had received high praise from professors there. “I went to the Wharton School of Finance, and many of those professors think my plan is a brilliant plan,” Trump said while discussing his economic policies. Harris countered, highlighting that top economists, including those from Wharton, had criticized Trump’s proposals, predicting they would worsen the economy and increase the national deficit.
Despite Trump’s frequent references to Wharton as evidence of his intelligence, not all accounts from his time there paint a flattering picture. Former Wharton marketing professor William T. Kelley, as recalled by lawyer Frank DiPrima, was known for his low opinion of Trump, reportedly calling him “the dumbest godd**n student I ever had.” DiPrima noted that Kelley often described Trump as arrogant and uninterested in learning during his time at the school.
Trump transferred to Wharton after spending two years at Fordham University, earning a Bachelor of Science in economics in 1968. He has often described Wharton as “the hardest school to get into” and “super genius stuff.” However, Trump has never released his academic records or provided details about his admission process. James Nolan, a former admissions officer at the University of Pennsylvania, recalled Trump’s application process but was unsure if Trump’s acceptance was influenced by his family’s wealth and connections.
Nolan stated that getting into Wharton in the 1960s was not particularly difficult and said he was not impressed by Trump during the interview, adding, “I certainly was not struck by any sense that I’m sitting before a genius. Certainly not a super genius.” Nolan also noted that Trump appeared to be a loner during his time at Wharton, often seen alone on campus. report from Times Now.
Trump’s efforts to keep his academic records private have also drawn attention. In 2019, Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen testified before Congress that Trump had directed him to threaten his alma maters, including Fordham University and the New York Military Academy, with legal action if his transcripts were released. Cohen provided evidence of letters sent to these institutions warning them against disclosing Trump’s grades or SAT scores, citing privacy laws and threatening legal consequences.
Following Trump’s debate remarks about his Wharton professors, many online users expressed skepticism. Social media reactions ranged from mocking Trump’s claims to questioning the validity of his statements. One X user tweeted, “I really hope the follow-up was, ‘Which professors? Can you name any?'” Another remarked, “Literally NONE of those professors think #trump plan is a brilliant plan. Almost every economist out there thinks the #trump plan will add massively to the deficit, and national debt, and cause huge inflation.”
As Trump continues to reference his time at Wharton as a credential for his policy proposals, public scrutiny of his academic history remains persistent, with many questioning the accuracy of his claims and the reality of his experiences at the prestigious business school.
I really hope the followup was, “Which professors? Can you name any?”— Michael VanDeMar (@mvandemar) September 11, 2024
Bro, all your professors are dead.— Allen Weisselberger (@weisselbergers) September 11, 2024
Literally NONE of those professors think #trump plan is brilliant plan
Almost every economist out there thinks #trump plan will add massively to the deficit, national debt, and cause huge inflation— WhosAGoodBoy (@TweetyThings1) September 11, 2024
Name one professor who believes that.— D Villella❄️🇺🇸 🦅 (@dvillella) September 11, 2024
That’s another lie… Many of the professors at his former school have said the exact opposite— David Conte (@Conte13V) September 11, 2024
