Trump targets Harvard with $1B demand
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President Trump intensified his war against Harvard University overnight, demanding $1 billion for "damages" and threatening criminal investigations.
Why it matters: Trump's escalation could mean a breakdown in negotiations between the university and administration.
- After months of quiet diplomacy, Trump now suggests he's preparing to use the full weight of federal law enforcement and financial sanctions to punish Harvard.
State of play: Despite New York Times reports that Trump had dropped a demand for a $200 million settlement payment from Harvard, the president jumped on Truth Social overnight to switch to a more aggressive position.
- Trump is now publicly calling for $1 billion in damages. That's a fivefold increase from previously reported figures.
- In the posts, Trump explicitly described the Harvard situation as "Criminal, not Civil."
The other side: Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Of note: Trump spent the early morning hours blasting the Times reporting as "wrong," effectively torpedoing the deal spearheaded by billionaire Stephen Schwarzman.
Between the lines: Trump can hurt Harvard in two primary ways:
- Harvard relies heavily on federal grants for research funding. Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut those ties.
- Investigations into the university's handling of antisemitism, ties to China and other civil rights complaints give the White House a way to crack down on school policy and administrators.
What's next: Harvard's board met Monday to take stock of the evolving situation.
- A move toward criminal investigations would be a significant legal escalation.
Editor's note: This story is developing and will be updated.