Post by : Bianca
Haleem
US President Donald Trump on Monday said his administration would seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, escalating a dispute between the government and the Ivy League institution.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, rejecting reports that Harvard had secured concessions in settlement talks with the federal government.
“We are now seeking one billion dollars in damages and want nothing further to do with Harvard University in the future,” Trump wrote.
The move comes after a New York Times report claimed that the Trump administration had dropped its earlier demand of a $200 million settlement from Harvard following prolonged negotiations.
Trump officials have accused Harvard and other elite universities of promoting what they call “woke ideology” and failing to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian campus protests. The administration has filed legal complaints and demanded large financial penalties from several universities.
Critics have described these actions as a pressure campaign against liberal academic institutions.
Earlier, Trump had said talks were close to a $500 million settlement, which reportedly included plans to open trade schools. However, Trump later dismissed the proposal, calling it inadequate.
“It was merely a way for Harvard to avoid a large cash settlement of more than $500 million,” Trump said, adding that the amount should be even higher due to what he described as “serious and illegal actions” by the university. He did not specify which laws Harvard allegedly violated.
Other Ivy League universities have also complied with administration demands. Columbia University agreed last year to pay $200 million and committed to policies barring race-based considerations in admissions and hiring. Meanwhile, the University of Pennsylvania announced a ban on transgender women participating in women’s sports.
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