Trump Demands $1 Billion from Harvard in High-Stakes Settlement Showdown Over Alleged Woke Policies and Student Safety Failures

Former US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University. His statement followed reports that the Ivy League school had gained some concessions in ongoing settlement talks with the federal government. Trump made the declaration on his Truth Social platform. He wrote, “We are now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages, and want nothing further to do, into the future, with Harvard University.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Harvard and other elite colleges of promoting “woke” ideologies. Officials also claim these schools failed to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests. In response, the government filed legal complaints and demanded large financial settlements. Critics say this is a politically motivated campaign to pressure liberal universities.

Other Ivy League institutions have already reached agreements with the administration. Last summer, Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million. It also pledged to follow rules banning race-based considerations in admissions and hiring. The University of Pennsylvania responded to federal concerns by restricting transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the Trump administration dropped a $200 million settlement demand against Harvard after long negotiations. Trump had previously hinted at a possible $500 million agreement. Part of the plan included the opening of trade schools. Trump criticized the proposal. He said it was “wholly inadequate” and would not have succeeded.

In his Truth Social post, Trump added that Harvard’s concessions seemed designed to avoid a larger payout. “It was merely a way of Harvard getting out of a large cash settlement of more than 500 Million Dollars, a number that should be much higher for the serious and heinous illegalities that they have committed,” he wrote, without specifying the alleged violations.

The dispute highlights ongoing tension between Trump’s administration and top universities over admissions policies, ideological influence, and student safety. Harvard now faces a potential $1 billion claim. The case raises the stakes in one of the most high-profile battles between US higher education and government officials in recent years.