The Trump vs. Harvard Fight Continues

In a Truth Social post last Monday, President Donald Trump revealed that the U.S. government is seeking a $1 billion payment from Harvard University. Earlier that day, the New York Times reported that Trump had dropped his demand of $200 million from the university. In his post, however, Trump responded to the article by denying the claim, asserting that the “Strongly Antisemitic Harvard University has been feeding a lot of  ‘nonsense’  to the Failing New York Times.”

Trump’s conflict with Harvard originated last April, after the university refused to comply with a list of demands involving issues such as DEI and antisemitism. As a result, funding for research grants—totalling over $2 billion—was cut, causing Harvard to file a lawsuit against the government. One month later, Trump prohibited the institution from enrolling international students; this action was later blocked by a judge. In early September, another judge ruled that the funding cuts violated the First Amendment. Since then, the two sides have gone back and forth in the dispute.

Unlike previously reported, Trump’s post confirmed that the saga is not close to an end: in the summer, the President claimed that an agreement was being reached, with Harvard paying $500 million to create a “giant trade school.” However, Trump’s new post called the previous deal “convoluted” and “wholly inadequate.” The new demand is twice as high as the previous one, illustrating the government’s dissatisfaction with Harvard’s stance. Furthermore, the university’s administrators have been said to refuse any cash payment to appease Trump.

In another direct attack on the university, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Friday that the Department of War would be ending all military education, “fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University.” Hegseth, a Harvard alumnus, said that officers who participated in the programs came back with “heads full of… radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks."

The latest developments in the fight highlight that the federal government is adamant that Harvard should give in; nevertheless, the university has resisted Trump’s demands, unlike institutions such as Brown and Columbia. Despite funding cuts, international student controversies and the end of military programs with the government, Harvard has scored victories due to judicial rulings. While the path forward will be rife with governmental pressure from the Trump administration, Harvard will stand strong to preserve its rights.

Read more here:

• Donald Trump, Truth Social

• Michael C. Bender, Michael S. Schmidt, and Alan Blinder, The New York Times

• Hugo C. Chiasson and Elise A. Spenner, The Harvard Crimson