U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. government will demand $1 billion, approximately 31.5 billion baht, in damages from Harvard University after The New York Times reported that Harvard had managed to negotiate certain terms in settlement talks with the government.
President Donald Trump announced via the Truth Social platform on Monday, 2 Feb 2024 GMT+7, that his administration will pursue damages of up to $1 billion (about 31.5 billion baht) from Harvard University, adding that he no longer wishes to have any association with the university in the future.
This move came after The New York Times reported that Harvard appeared to have secured some concessions during settlement negotiations with the government, which initially included a possible reduction of the compensation demand from $200 million. However, Trump denied this and countered by increasing the damage claim by several multiples.
Trump described Harvard’s proposal to establish a vocational training program as a substitute for cash compensation as a "complex and insufficient" idea, viewing it as merely a tactic to avoid paying a large sum of money. He asserted that the damages should exceed $500 million, considering what he called the university’s "serious and reprehensible illegal actions," although he did not specify which laws Harvard had violated.
Trump’s team has targeted elite Ivy League institutions, accusing these universities of promoting a "woke" ideology and failing to protect Jewish students from pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Critics see this as a government campaign to pressure universities with strongly liberal stances.
Under pressure from the Trump administration, several Ivy League universities have acquiesced to government demands. Columbia University agreed last summer to pay $200 million in damages and pledged not to consider race in admissions or hiring. Meanwhile, the University of Pennsylvania complied with government concerns by banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
Regarding Harvard, Trump reiterated that the $1 billion damage claim represents a decisive measure against what he views as serious misconduct that has caused significant harm to the American education system and society.