Public sentiment is overwhelmingly negative towards the settlement, with many expressing outrage at Harvard for capitulating to the Trump administration's perceived extortion. Commenters feel betrayed by Harvard’s decision and express deep disappointment at the institution for not standing up against what they see as government overreach and bullying. There is a strong call for accountability and an emphasis on the disconnect between elite institutions and taxpayers.

Harvard University

Trump Administration


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You too, Harvard?  Nobody will see the law school to be somewhere worthwhile to go to after this.

thieh

“I wasn’t expecting the capitulation.”  

Harvard, you have billions.  You could fight.  

mysticrhythms

Trump is leveraging U.S. spending like it is a protection racket.

'Nice research projects you have there - would be a shame if something were to happen to them.'

The founders of our country created a President with limited and checked powers. they specifically put the power of spending and taxation in the hands of the Congress, because they had seen how Kings and Despots used spending and taxes to control their subjects.

British kings used taxation to reward loyalty and punish dissent. Our revolution was spurred by the King's use of heavy taxation of the Colonies to punish our push for self-governance. The King's message was clear: stop protesting and I will stop taxing.

Trump knows he can weaken (and maybe destroy) democracy by spending and taxation in the same way. He is using access to government funds to bully universities, law firms, and State and Local governments into loyalty pledges.

Truthisnotallowed

The way every American institution bends over for trump.  How pathetic!

ClassOptimal7655

for "payment," read "bribe" or "protection money"

Simorie

At one time, the world thought it was reasonable to capitulate to Hitler.

Ametalslimedr_wsnear

Western-Corner-431

Some more extortion and bribery. All of these institutions destroy their own reputation by aiding and abetting this pedophilic criminal.

JimmyRamone17_

SoupSpelunker

naota3k

Boo-hoo. Won’t anyone stand up to this fascism?

iamuseless

Harvard should go after Trump all the way to the Supreme Court. When are organizations going to stand up to this illegal activity. It’s law. They get the money. Not the president but congress sets the rules. It’s disgusting that they cave.

Rabe_Burns

It’s pure extortion but with both the DOJ and SCOUS under Trump’s control, what can they do? Even if they win, the Trump admin will appeal till they win.

Crotch-jockey

It doesn’t stop there, never. It’s like bullies got what they demanded and then they would demand more, correct way of dealing bullies is to stand up and be tough, but apparently in the US everyone is so weak and coward to stand up against a dictator.

userfromau

From the Shining City on a Hill, to the Ivory Tower…

…it’s always just been about the money.  The diploma that comes from any university that makes “a deal” with this fascist regime is worth as much as what my dog leaves behind in the yard that I have to go around and scoop up.

Ohuigin

How many MAGA Republicans are in the Congress that graduated from Harvard? It’s a lot more than you probably think. They are smart enough to understand how to play down and play dumb to get what they want.

NoCoffee6754

motohaas

Wrong_Lever_1

SuperstitiousPigeon5

Who's making the $50 million payment? Trump using taxpayer dollars or Harvard? If it's Harvard, they may as well not capitulate.

Jhero61

The Ivy League is crumbling...to a low class, sex offender, felon.

I imagine Trump has one of those bank suction tube things where these "settlements" go directly to his pocket.

vorhesevorhese

This is all part of the plan. This the grift. How does anyone not see that he’s purposefully cashing in on America’s profitable institutions?

Entertainment? ✅\
Technology? ✅\
Education? ✅

America is his bank now.

Rhoeri

One can only hope that Harvard is playing the long game and this keeps them immune from future harassment like what Disney did.

fritz236

Payout not to the Dept of Treasury, but back to trump via superpac

judgejuddhirsch

FactorBig5452

Man everyone is just capitulating to this loser

bloohens

More on this subject from other reputable sources:

---
- Forbes (B-): [Trump Says Harvard May Settle With Government For $500 Million](https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/09/30/harvard-may-settle-government-dispute-for-500-million-trump-says/)
- CTVNews (A-): [Trump says U.S. government reached deal with Harvard University](https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/trump-says-us-government-reached-deal-with-harvard-university/)
- Bloomberg (B+): [Trump Says US Close to Finalizing $500 Million Harvard Deal](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-30/trump-says-his-administration-reached-a-deal-with-harvard)
- South China Morning Post (C+): [Trump says Harvard to pay US$500 million in deal with administration](https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3327449/trump-says-harvard-pay-us500-million-deal-administration)

---
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newswall-org

Great. Trade schools about to cost 300 grand.

heavyonthahound

I don’t get it… for what? It’s not a court case settlement right? It’s not taxes? Who do you even make the check out to?

amayle1

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Harvard has stood up to Trump and has won an early round legal victory.

DoremusJessup

You know, this would feel better if they playbook wasn't inevitably: (1) do something obviously illegal (2) get slapped down by a district (or appellate) court for overstepping authority (3) appeal to the SCROTUS shadow docket (or by cert) and be welcomed with open arms by his bought-and-paid for conservative block who then (4) let him do the bad thing. Rinse and repeat.

Shit's bleak.

TooManyCooks3

It would be nice if, after all of this legal wrangling, America would learn to stop obeying in advance.

Refuse. Tell him, "No". Tell him and his administration to pound sand.

Truly, it will be an endless game of undoing his daily retributions until we simply refuse to play along.

kevendo

Trump’s advisor morons really wanted to go toe-to-toe with the school that has graduated more top lawyers than any other school in our nation’s history.

NerdOfTheMonth

All fine until it gets to the Supine Court.

Utterlybored

And damages… any damages to Harvard?  2% would help

already-redacted

Making a deal with a guy who never keeps his part of of the deal.

BusyTea4010

flavanugz

I hope they dont pull a Brown, what Brown did is horrible. 

Honestly, if the parameters of these settlements require discrimination state AGs need to start going after universities.

ketchupbreakfest

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Tyrannical bullshit and no one has the balls to tell him to piss off.    
  
Let’s be honest, leaders of these prestigious institutions probably voted for him.

woonoto1

Disgusting. Just opening the door for even bigger grifts on other learning institutions. How the mighty has fallen.

Psychicgoat2

Impossible-Shine4660

Spend 500 million on what?  I'd be interested to hear the details.

NYT says "vocational, educational programs and research", which might be frankly be extensions of stuff they already do.

Affectionate-Panic-1

How is this not racketeering and extortion to the highest degree? Straight federal level mafia strategies

thetoxicballer

jrob321

myleftone

In a sane, non-tyrannical country, securing academic freedom is not a win. It’s a basic principle for a free society.

JasJoeGo

Showing fealty and paying tribute to the orange king. Disgusting.

Hefty-Status8681

JISurfer

Everyone fucking bending the knee to Tangerine Palpatine.

Zulmoka531

Way to bend the knee, Harvard. The school with the deepest pockets and power has folded, paving the way for future administrations to tamper with whatever school it wants. 

They fucking suck.

Not_A_Comeback

Wire transfer to offshore account, most likely.

jwclair

PhotonDealer2067

It's all about money with the elite. They don't give a fuck about defending freedoms, they ONLY care about keeping their money and status.  Left or right, money is the true master when it comes down to it

Chile_Chowdah

So what this tells me is that extortion works. Are future presidents going to pull this crap?

LHam1969

How did all these elite people become successul while being complete pussies? How is it that those with voices are able to refrain from calling him out every time he opens his mouth?

suckeddit

Once again, I'd like to thank the people who abstained because they didn't think Kamala was good enough. This is what you could have prevented.

LionBig1760

Makes you wonder who at Harvard is on the list

No_Display_9425

The thing that makes me so outraged is that this is never going to come back on conservatives organizations, Democrats are never going to get in power and go after Breitbart news or the other hacks that spew propaganda non stop.

natethegreek

Jegagne88

Wait till next presidential administration when dark money is made illegal.

/Not gonna happen but hey...

enry

Welp, Harvard's just as pathetic as the rest of the Ivies.

Glad I went to a state school.

Sea-Estate-6026

Don’t do it.  Get him to agree to a deal, then back out and go back and forth asking for time.  It’s both his playbook and one he falls for consistently.

pnwloveyoutalltreea

Every one of these feckless, wimpy universities are pathetic.  And they’re validating every conspiracy and bad faith argument conservatives make about them

Mr_Donatti

Ridiculous capitulation. Harvard loses twice

simplym666

If next potus is democrat, they better shut down Prather U.

xcrunner1988

Money is more important than anything else to those in power.  They're money stopped rolling in and they folded like a cheap suit.

Octo

Mystical_Cat

Icy_Ambition6214

So Harvard is admitting it fostered bad actors? 

MayorQuimBee90

Sad to see this political shakedown happening that will just encourage this administration to continue doing it to other institutions. Don't see how Harvard's reputation doesn't suffer.

Melodic-Ad7271

Wise_Material_5812

Fucking Trumpy McFuckStick and his nest of vipers administration are out of control and rolling over this country. How in the hell is he ever going to be stopped?!? JFC!!

theUncleAwesome07

Hmm now Columbia isn’t looking so bad….

waffles2go2

EruditeTarington

That should have just held out and told him to go fuck himself! This is NOTHING but extortion and they know it.

Ok_Coconut_3364

Chillpickle17

DukeLeto10191

Mental-Rush2011

wintermute369

This was reported a week or so ago and Harvard said it was bullshit. I don't see any official communication from Harvard claiming this is true.

Recent_Description44

Liskrig

Whatever it takes to keep Daddy's allowance flowing

Palingenesis1

The “elites” in this country are a bunch of feckless cowards. 

Totally unwilling to stand up for their supposed values and principles and at a time when their leadership would be invaluable. 

What a fucking joke.

lucascorso21

I'm no lawyer, but how is this not racketeering? Extortion?

JM3DlCl

whateverkitty-1256

Trump close to extorting $500M from Harvard.  Fixed it for you.

[deleted]

We used to have a country other countries envied. Now, they laugh at us. Thanks MAGA, you really owned the libs

throwsplasticattrees

So basically Harvard is paying for Trump's new luxury jumbo jet?

Dragon-Boater

NutmegManwithbigsack

Where does this money go? Into trump's pockets?

PuppiesAndPixels

The brain drain is really going to ratchet up now

kath32838849292

Thankfully they will not get a penny of the $200 million in Fair Share money set aside to protect public MA research universities.

chrisrobweeks

Desperate_Set_7708

I can't wait to see all these fucking institutions dry up and evaporate from this country as less than less people go there because it means less and less as time goes on. What's the fucking point of going to this prominent school if the curriculum is curtailed by a fastest resume? I don't remember hearing many people talk about the wonderful colleges and higher education in Nazi Germany either so I guess we get that going Too

po3smith

fistsofham11

jd342092

The Trump administration has announced a $500 million settlement with Harvard University to resolve a dispute over funding and allegations of antisemitism.

Trump Administration Settlement with Harvard University

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Public Sentiment Summary

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