U.S. President Donald Trump, in response to a reporter's question in the White House on September 30, said that after months of negotiations with Harvard University, an agreement had been reached that would require the U.S. University to pay $500 million and open a vocational school to teach related skills such as artificial intelligence.

On September 30, at the White House in the U.S. capital Washington, U.S. President Trump answered questions from journalists.

Trump: Soon to be finalized

According to Associated Press, Trump initially said an agreement with Harvard had been reached, and later said officials were ¡°in the process of finalizing¡± the agreement.

Trump told reporters at an event in the Oval Office on September 30 that Education Minister Linda McMahon was finishing the final details of the deal, ¡°currently very close to a deal.¡±

According to Trump, under the agreement, Harvard will pay about $500 million and open vocational schools to teach artificial intelligence-related skills and knowledge in many other fields, including engine technology. In addition, Trump did not disclose further details of the agreement.

The New York Times reported in late July that Harvard University was considering paying up to $500 million to resolve a legal dispute with the Trump administration. A source said Harvard University was reluctant to pay the federal government directly, but negotiators were still discussing specific terms.

On May 29, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., Harvard University President Alan M. Garber attended the graduation ceremony.

Harvard: No comment yet

Since Trump returned to the White House in January this year, the U.S. government has asked many colleges and universities to eradicate anti-Semitism and adjust their enrollment policies that favor ethnic minorities, otherwise they will face risks such as funding cuts or cuts off. Some colleges and universities choose to compromise and reach a "rectification" agreement with the government, while Harvard chooses "hard".

On April 14, Harvard rejected the U.S. government¡¯s request to adjust the school administration structure, recruitment and enrollment policies. The U.S. government announced on the same day that it would freeze Harvard¡¯s total annual grants of $2.2 billion and $60 million in multiannual contracts. On April 21, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, accusing it of attempting to control Harvard¡¯s academic decisions by means of freezing federal funds.

The Trump administration also took measures in May and June to restrict Harvard¡¯s enrollment of international students, after measures were temporarily suspended by federal judges.

In response to Trump¡¯s latest statements about the ¡°coming settlement¡± agreement, Harvard University has not responded for the time being. Chief Professor Alan M. Gibb said earlier that after Trump¡¯s return to the White House, the federal government¡¯s actions could cause the school to lose $1 billion a year, which would force schools to cut jobs and freeze recruitment.