Trump Demands $1 Billion in Damages from Harvard University

Tue Feb 03 2026 16:21:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a developing confrontation with Harvard, Trump indicates he will seek $1 billion in damages, escalating tensions over alleged mishandling of antisemitism during protests.

Former President Donald Trump has set his sights on Harvard University, demanding $1 billion in damages amid ongoing disputes over free speech and antisemitism accusations. This move follows the administration's earlier negotiations and claims about Harvard's treatment of critical issues during protests, intensifying the feud that began during his presidency.

Former President Donald Trump announced his intention to seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, a significant development in the ongoing conflict between his administration and the prestigious institution.

This announcement comes on the heels of a report by the New York Times, which revealed that the Trump administration had previously backtracked from demanding $200 million in negotiations with the university.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Harvard of 'feeding a lot of nonsense' to the New York Times regarding their handling of topics related to antisemitism.

Trump and his officials have criticized Harvard for allegedly not doing enough to address antisemitic sentiments during pro-Palestinian protests, a claim that Harvard has rebutted.

Throughout his presidency, Harvard has been a focal point for Trump's administration, as part of a broader campaign against what it refers to as 'woke' ideologies prevalent on college campuses.

In April 2022, Trump had already revoked approximately $2 billion in research grants from Harvard and halted federal funding, prompting the university to sue his administration. The university argued that such actions violate academic freedoms.

A federal court later reversed Trump's funding cuts, ruling that the government infringed upon the university's rights to free speech. In response, the White House vowed to challenge this decision and maintain that Harvard should remain ineligible for future federal grants.

Before this latest announcement, the administration had been in talks with Harvard regarding the unfreezing of federal funds. Trump's recent statement declares a complete cessation of future dealings with the university, citing 'serious and heinous illegalities' but lacking specific details on the alleged breaches.

Notably, Trump has previously threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status and take control of patents related to federally funded research. Other Ivy League institutions like Columbia, Penn, and Brown managed to strike deals with Trump in order to preserve federal funding, avoiding court battles.