U.S. President Trump Demands $1 Billion from Harvard; Rejects NYT Report on Settlement

U.S. President Donald Trump said late Monday that his administration is pursuing $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, disputing a New York Times report that claimed the White House had backed away from a previously reported $200 million settlement demand. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Harvard of “feeding a lot of nonsense” to the newspaper and labelled the university “Strongly Antisemitic,” though he did not specify the harms the school had caused. The president also called thTimes report “completely wrong” and demanded a correction.

The heightened demand comes amid the Trump administration’s broader campaign targeting elite universities for what it describes as a culture of antisemitism and “radical left” ideology, including the cancellation of hundreds of research grants. Harvard has previously sued the federal government, arguing that efforts to leverage federal funding to force changes at the university threaten academic freedom. Other Ivy League institutions, such as Columbia and Brown, have reached agreements with the administration under similar scrutiny.

Trump’s announcement also unfolds against a backdrop of mounting domestic criticism over his immigration policies and enforcement tactics — notably the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota that have triggered protests and calls for accountability nationwide. The university’s response to these broader policy debates, and its legal pushback against federal pressure, are likely to shape ongoing political and legal battles.

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