Harvard ‘Dragged its Feet’—What Happens Next

President Donald Trump is now seeking a $1 billion settlement with Harvard University because the school has “dragged its feet” during months of negotiations, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“This has been an ongoing negotiation and frankly, a frustrating negotiation for the president and the administration because we want a deal,” Leavitt said in response to a question from The Daily Signal, “and it’s very unfortunate that Harvard has dragged its feet.”

Harvard and the Trump administration have engaged in a legal battle for about nine months after Trump pulled $2 billion in federal funding and removed Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. The president took action over Harvard’s alleged failure to curb antisemitism and its DEI practices.

Trump had said at the end of January that a deal with Harvard was close. Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed this to The Daily Signal, saying “He’s right. It’s ongoing.”

Harvard was previously willing to settle for $500 million, to be spent on workforce development training programs, but the New York Times reported that Trump administration officials wanted some of the money paid directly to the federal government. 

“They need to rectify the wrongs and the illegal behavior that took place on their campus over the course of the past several years under the previous administration,” Leavitt told The Daily Signal. “The president wants a justified deal to correct for that criminal behavior that took place on their campus.”

The New York Times reported that the president was dropping the demand for a cash settlement, but the president disputed this reporting, and requested even more money.

“He is now demanding $1 billion from Harvard University,” she added, “and Secretary McMahon will be continuing to lead this negotiation in these talks.”

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