Trump Hints at Historic Deal with Harvard Amid Funding Row

President Donald Trump has teased that his administration is in ongoing talks with Harvard University and may announce a deal within the next week, a move that could bring an end to a high-profile standoff threatening billions of dollars in funding and tipping off a heated legal battle.

“They’ve acted extremely appropriately during these negotiations and seem committed to doing what’s right,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday. He added that if the current terms are finalised, the settlement would be “mindbogglingly HISTORIC” and “very good for our Country.”

The president’s positive tone suggests a major shift in one of the most contentious issues of his current term. Trump has repeatedly accused US universities of enabling antisemitism and promoting a left-wing agenda. Harvard, the wealthiest and oldest university in the US, has been at the forefront of his criticism. In recent months, the Trump administration cut off over $2.6 billion in research funding, threatened the university’s tax-exempt status, and sought to block the enrolment of international students.

Harvard has pushed back hard, accusing the administration of making “unconstitutional demands” that would undermine academic freedom. The university has taken legal action over the frozen funding and the attempt to restrict foreign student admissions, arguing that the government’s actions are politically motivated and harmful to education and research.

Meanwhile, Trump’s crackdown extended beyond Harvard. Other top-tier institutions, including Northwestern University, Cornell, and Columbia, have also seen their federal funding withheld over similar concerns.

Columbia University, in particular, had made headway in negotiations earlier this year. In March, it agreed to a list of conditions laid out by the administration including expanding the powers of campus police, enforcing stricter protest regulations, and restricting the use of masks to hide identities during demonstrations.

Although these steps drew criticism from some faculty and students, federal officials indicated at the time that Columbia was on track to regain its funding. However, talks collapsed after interim president Katrina Armstrong reportedly downplayed the agreed changes with faculty, leading to renewed backlash.

As the spotlight now turns back to Harvard, the outcome of these talks could set the tone for how other universities navigate growing tensions between academic institutions and a politically charged White House.