President Donald Trump has expressed optimism for a “mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC” settlement with Harvard University, stating it will be “very good for our Country,” even as his administration threatens to cut all federal funding over alleged civil rights violations against Jewish students. The ongoing negotiations follow an investigation that concluded Harvard was a “willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment.”
The threat of a complete funding cut stems from findings that Harvard violated civil rights laws by failing to protect students from discrimination based on race or nationality. This latest pressure follows Harvard already losing over $2.6 billion in federal funding due to its non-compliance with President Trump’s earlier demands for reforms in campus hiring, admissions, and governance.
The ongoing dispute has also been fueled by President Trump’s criticisms of Harvard’s international student enrollment. He previously suggested a cap of around 15% on foreign students, arguing that the university’s reported 31% figure limited opportunities for American students seeking admission to elite institutions. This issue had been a significant point of contention.
In a previous escalation, the administration had revoked Harvard’s certification to enroll international students, which Harvard countered with a lawsuit alleging unconstitutional retaliation. Despite this history of conflict, President Trump’s recent comments on Truth Social suggest a positive turn in negotiations, indicating a potential resolution, the specifics of which remain to be seen.