What started in 2025 as an effort to investigate anti-semitism on the Cambridge campus quickly morphed into a broad attack on the university.PHOTO: SOPHIE PARK/NYTIMES

Trump, changing course, throws Harvard deal talks into chaos

· The Straits Times

WASHINGTON – The potential for a deal between Harvard University and the White House
was thrown into doubt after President Donald Trump unleashed a blistering attack on the Ivy League school in a series of late-night social media posts.

Just last week, Mr Trump privately told negotiators he was willing to drop his demand for a $200 million (S$254 million) payment from Harvard to the government if that would secure an agreement to end his pressure campaign against the university, which he views as hostile to conservatives and his presidency.