The Trump administration is growing closer to striking a deal with Harvard University after the school became one of the most resistant to the administration’s demands on curbing antisemitism and “discriminatory” diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

The New York Times reported that negotiations between the White House and Harvard have restarted and President Donald Trump signaled that a deal is close.

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“Many people have been asking what is going on with Harvard University and their largescale improprieties that we have been addressing, looking for a solution,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday afternoon. “We have been working closely with Harvard, and it is very possible that a Deal will be announced over the next week or so. They have acted extremely appropriately during these negotiations, and appear to be committed to doing what is right. If a Settlement is made on the basis that is currently being discussed, it will be ‘mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC, and very good for our Country.”

The administration has been placing heavier and heavier pressure on the school to cede to its demands, taking measures like denying visas for foreign students aiming to study at Harvard, which the university has challenged in court. Harvard is just one of the many schools the administration has pressed to make progress on key issues, usually on fighting antisemitism or DEI initiatives.

After being praised by Democrats and others for resisting the administration, Harvard has reportedly begun to buckle. It was reported that the university’s officials believe the school will back down and become less ambitious if more measures are taken against it for resisting federal policy.

A meeting this week reportedly took place between White House officials and representatives from Harvard.

At the meeting, Harvard representatives reportedly showed White House officials a presentation that laid out measures the school has taken on antisemitism, viewpoint diversity, and admissions. The Trump administration had demanded the school make progress on these things, especially antisemitism, which the administration has demanded several other schools make progress on fighting.

The White House told Harvard steps that it would take to resolve the disputes and sent a letter to Harvard laying out what needed to be done, the outlet reported.

Harvard decided to meet with the White House after Education Secretary Linda McMahon suggested she wanted to negotiate with Harvard. She said the university had made “progress” on the administration’s demands earlier this month.

She put the credit in the hands of the Trump administration for Harvard’s progress.

“I have seen progress. And you know why I think we’re seeing progress? Because we are putting these measures in place, and we’re saying we’re putting teeth behind what we’re looking at,” McMahon said in an interview with NBC News.

Two people briefed on the discussions between Harvard and the White House said it was highly unlikely a deal would be reached in the next week, the New York Times reported.

A person close to the university said it would not compromise its values or its First Amendment rights in any deal with the Trump administration, the outlet reported. One approach discussed by the sides is that the Trump administration would restart federal funding to the school and stop its legal actions against them, and in exchange, Harvard would be more aggressive than it had been in pursuing the issues the administration has laid out in antisemitism and viewpoint diversity. 

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The administration is hoping a major deal with Harvard would encourage other universities to do the same. A deal with the administration would likely open up the schools, including Harvard, to scrutiny to those close to the institutions.

Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers said “it would be a tragedy if Harvard resolved this in a way that gave support and encouragement to the idea of extralegal extortion.”