Trump Teases Deal With Harvard University After Months Long Fight

THE OVAL OFFICE – President Donald Trump told the Daily Caller that his administration was finalizing a deal with Harvard University after months of fighting with the Ivy League school.

Trump said Tuesday that Education Secretary Linda McMahon was handling “the final stages” for a deal with Harvard University and all that was left was “to paper it out.” The president told the Caller that Harvard University is expected to pay approximately $500 million towards running trade schools. The schools will specialize in artificial intelligence and automotive plants. (RELATED: Universities Are Fighting Trump Tooth And Nail — But He’s The Least Of Their Problems)

“They’re going to be teaching people how to do AI and lots of other things — engines, lots of things. You know, we need people in trade schools,” Trump told the Caller.

“I remember when I went to school, I had some people that weren’t particularly good students, but they could take a motor or an engine apart blindfolded and put it back blindfolded, but they weren’t too good at other things. They ended up — many of them ended up doing better than the people that were — so trade schools are very important, and we’ve lost trade schools,” the president added.

🚨 BREAKING: Pres. Trump says he is “very close” to closing a deal with Harvard that will result in the university paying $500 million towards operating trade schools & teaching students about AI@reaganreese_ pic.twitter.com/ni2Akk4W9Z

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 30, 2025

The Trump administration first sent Harvard University a list of demands in April, asking for audits on their response to anti-Israel protests on campus and their admissions process.

After Harvard University rejected them, the administration began freezing funds to the institution. In April, Harvard University had $8.7 billion in federal funds under review as the administration investigates alleged antisemitism.

In addition to freezing funds, Trump’s Department of Education notified the institution’s accreditor in June of its alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus.

“By opening up trade schools, this would be a giant trade school, series of trade schools. It would be run by Harvard. Now this is something that we’re close to finalizing. We haven’t done it yet, but they put up $500 million, interest and everything else would go to that account, meaning go to the trade school,” Trump told the Caller.

“And, you know, it’s a big investment in trade school, done by very smart people. And then their sins are forgiven. So we have a good chance of getting that close,” he added.