Former President Donald Trump has declared his intent to seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, highlighting the escalating conflict between his administration and the prestigious institution.
This announcement follows a report from the New York Times indicating that Trump’s administration had previously renegotiated a demand for a $200 million payment from Harvard.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Harvard of feeding a lot of nonsense to the New York Times. His administration has claimed that Harvard's handling of antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests has been insufficient, a charge that the university has denied.
Through its ongoing discourse, the Trump administration has made Harvard a focal point in its campaign against what it terms 'woke' and radical ideologies on college campuses. Last year, Trump revoked approximately $2 billion in research grants to Harvard and froze federal funding—a move the university contested in court, asserting that the government should not dictate its academic direction.
A federal court later overturned those funding cuts, ruling that the actions violated Harvard’s rights to free speech, a decision the White House has vowed to challenge. Before the latest lawsuit declaration, discussions were underway to potentially unfreeze federal funds for Harvard.
Trump's latest allegations include accusations of serious and heinous illegalities on Harvard's part, though he did not elaborate on those claims. Furthermore, he has previously threatened to revoke the university's tax-exempt status and take control over its patents from federally funded research.
Interestingly, other Ivy League schools like Columbia, Penn, and Brown have negotiated deals to maintain funding, avoiding similar confrontations with the administration.
This unfolding situation represents a key chapter in the tense relationship between the Trump administration and major educational institutions in the U.S.
