Trump seeks $1 billion from Harvard as two sides remain far from deal

Source: Reuters

Trump seeks $1 billion from Harvard as two sides remain far from deal

By Rishabh Jaiswal, Shivani Tanna and Kanishka Singh
February 2, 2026 11:30 PM EST Updated 1 hour ago


flag hangs on campus at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., September 4, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Monday his administration is pursuing $1 billion from Harvard to settle federal probes into the university over school policies, with the two sides yet to reach a final deal despite months of talks.

The Trump administration has been threatening to withhold federal funds from Harvard and several other universities over issues including pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war in Gaza, campus diversity and transgender policies. ... Trump has said Harvard and other universities allowed displays of antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests.

"We are now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages, and want nothing further to do, into the future, with Harvard University," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, without specifying how he arrived at that figure or what damages exactly he was referring to.

Trump's post came in response to a New York Times report, citing sources, saying the Trump administration has dropped its demand for cash from Harvard in ongoing talks to strike a deal. Trump dismissed the report.

{snip}

Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Stephen Coates and Susan Fenton

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-seeks-1-billion-harvard-university-damages-2026-02-03/