Harvard and Trump Restart Talks to Potentially End Bitter Dispute
Harvard University and the Trump administration have restarted talks to potentially settle the acrimonious dispute that led President Trump to wage a far-reaching attack on the school and raised stark questions about the federal government's place in higher education, according to three people briefed on the negotiations.
The discussions began again this week at a meeting in the White House. At the meeting, Harvard representatives showed White House officials a PowerPoint presentation that laid out measures the school has taken on antisemitism, viewpoint diversity and admissions.
In turn, the White House signaled other steps it would like for Harvard to take on those subjects and later sent a letter laying out conditions that could resolve the conflict, according to one of the people.
It is unclear how Harvard plans to respond to the letter. A university spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
Harvard representatives sought a meeting after other higher education leaders expressed hope that it — on behalf of academia — would re-engage with the administration. And Harvard's outreach came after Education Secretary Linda McMahon publicly raised the prospect of negotiations with a university she routinely criticized. Harvard officials sensed an opening and suggested a briefing on steps the school has taken in recent years, two of the people said.
It is unclear how close both sides are to a potential deal and the exact terms any final agreement would entail. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said it was 'very possible that a Deal will be announced over the next week or so.'
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