US President Donald Trump has demanded that Harvard University pay a \$500 million settlement before federal funding can be restored, accusing the Ivy League school of misconduct.
“We want nothing less than \$500 million from Harvard. Don’t negotiate, Linda,” Trump told Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 26.
He reiterated his stance moments later, adding, “They’ve been very bad. Don’t negotiate.”
The demand comes amid growing tensions between the White House and elite universities. Harvard is currently battling the administration in court over claims of antisemitism on campus—a dispute that has intensified following the Israel-Hamas war and renewed debates on academic freedom and political speech.
Harvard is the only institution directly challenging the government in court, placing it at the centre of a larger fight over higher education funding and federal oversight.
Within the Trump administration, officials believe that taking a tough stance against elite schools appeals to a political base frustrated by what they see as liberal dominance in academia.
A federal judge is expected to rule soon on Harvard’s case. The university has requested an expedited decision from US District Judge Allison Burroughs before September 3, the deadline for submitting critical grant paperwork needed to prevent research disruptions.
The administration has already reached settlements with Columbia and Brown Universities, leaving Harvard as the most prominent holdout in this unprecedented clash.
