Trump drops $200 million demand in Harvard talks, then denies backtracking

President Trump has backtracked in negotiations with Harvard, dropping his administration’s demand for a $200 million payment to the U.S. Treasury, The New York Times reported on Feb. 2, 2026, citing four people briefed on the matter. Hard-liners in the administration had pushed for a $200 million direct payment as part of a deal to address claims that Harvard mishandled antisemitism, but Harvard rejected the idea, fearful of backlash from liberal students, faculty and alumni.

The university had previously been reported as willing to spend $500 million on workforce programs, but rejected making $200 million of that a direct payment to the government. Administration officials told Harvard and Trump officials in recent days that the president no longer expected the payment, according to people briefed on the conversations.

Six hours after The Times reported that concession, Mr. Trump denied backtracking, attacked The Times and Harvard, and in a Truth Social post said he was seeking $1 billion “in damages” and that the investigations should be criminal rather than civil. The talks were aided by an encounter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Mr.

Trump asked investor Stephen A. Schwarzman to call him; people involved said Mr. Schwarzman and Mr. Trump spoke and that the president indicated he would drop the $200 million demand if it would secure a deal. Education Secretary Linda McMahon conveyed a similar message to Mr. Schwarzman last week, the officials said.

donald trump harvard, $200 million demand, $1 billion damages, stephen a. schwarzman, world economic forum davos, linda mcmahon education secretary, harvard workforce programs, federal research grants, harvard antisemitism claims, criminal investigations harvard, alan garber harvard, brown university deal, university of pennsylvania deal