Trump Administration Seeks $500M Antisemitism Settlement from Harvard

The Trump administration is pressuring Harvard University to agree to a settlement potentially reaching $500 million to resolve federal investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus, a figure significantly higher than the $200 million settlement recently reached with Columbia University. Harvard has been engaged in negotiations with the White House while simultaneously challenging the administration’s freeze on billions in federal research funding in court. The administration views the Columbia deal as a template for addressing similar cases at other universities and aims to use financial penalties as a precedent for enforcing compliance with civil rights protections. President Donald Trump acknowledged Harvard's willingness to settle but noted that Columbia handled the situation more effectively. Harvard's reluctance to pay is partly due to concerns over academic freedom and free speech, issues the university emphasized when initially resisting the administration’s demands. The ongoing discussions highlight the administration's increasing use of financial leverage in its campaign against campus antisemitism and discrimination violations.