Trump announces plan to sue Harvard for $1bn damages

The US president writes on Truth Social that he wants ‘nothing further to do, into the future’ with the university.Published On 3 Feb 2026United States President Donald Trump has said his administration will seek $1bn in damages from Harvard University.The US president announced his plan to extract the money from the Ivy League school on social media late on Monday. The note, which did not explain the exact nature of his complaint, extends an already protracted legal battle with the university.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US judge rules Trump unlawfully cut Harvard University research grantslist 2 of 4What are Trump’s new rules for universities to qualify for federal funding?list 3 of 4UC Berkeley shares information on 160 staff, students with US governmentlist 4 of 4Northwestern University president to resign amid tensions with Donald Trumpend of list“We are now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages, and want nothing further to do, into the future, with Harvard University,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Harvard has been the most prominent target of Trump’s ire, as he has sought to wield authority over higher education.He and his administration have railed against what they have termed “woke, socialist and anti-American” ideologies among students and professors, taking aim at pro-Palestine protests and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, among other topics.The president’s latest outburst, which unfolded over several long posts, appeared to respond to an article published on Monday by The New York Times that reported that the Trump administration has dropped a demand for a $200m payment from the university.In September, a federal judge ruled that the administration violated the law when it cancelled research grants worth more than $2.2bn to Harvard. The White House is now appealing the ruling and had sought the payment as part of a broader deal with the university.Quoting four anonymous sources, The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to have conceded the $200m as negotiations with the university continue.