Trump plans to sue Harvard for estimated $1 billion in damages

US President Donald Trump Announces Damages Claim Against Harvard University

In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration will seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard University. The claim extends an ongoing legal dispute between the university and the White House.

Trump’s announcement comes after a recent article by The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had dropped its demand for a $200 million payment from the university. A federal judge had previously ruled that the administration had violated the law when it cancelled research grants worth over $2.2 billion to Harvard in September.

The White House is now appealing the ruling and had sought the payment as part of a broader deal with the university. Trump’s latest statement appears to respond to the article, which also mentioned his falling approval ratings amid economic concerns and federal agents’ killings of two US citizens during an immigration crackdown.

Trump’s administration has been critical of Harvard University, citing what they describe as “woke, socialist, and anti-American” ideologies among students and professors. The university has faced demands from the White House to address issues such as pro-Palestine protests and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The dispute between Trump’s administration and Harvard University is part of a broader effort by the president to exert influence over higher education institutions in the US. In September, Trump signed executive orders calling for government agencies to take action against private institutions’ DEI programs and increase efforts to combat anti-Semitism on campuses.

Harvard University has not commented publicly on Trump’s latest statement or the ongoing dispute with his administration.

Source: Al Jazeera