Trump brings elite institutions to heel in $1.2 billion settlement spree

Data: Axios research; Chart: Axios VisualsPresident Trump has extracted more than $1.2 billion in settlements from 13 of the most powerful players in academia, law, media and tech, according to an Axios analysis.If finalized, a potential $500 million deal with Harvard would represent the largest scalp to date.Why it matters: America's most elite institutions have largely succumbed to the Trump administration's cultural crackdown, opting to pay up — often to the tune of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars — rather than fight back.Trump officials frame the settlements as accountability for society's liberal power centers, which they say have been captured by leftist ideology, corrupted by DEI and complicit in antisemitism.Critics say the deals — some of which include direct payments or pro bono legal work for Trump's pet causes — amount to legalized extortion by the federal government.Zoom in: Harvard has expressed a willingness to spend up to $500 million to settle its dispute with the White House, which has accused the university of civil rights violations tied to antisemitism and DEI policies, the New York Times reports.Harvard sued in April after the administration began freezing billions of dollars in federal research funding, insisting it would "not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights."The potential settlement would be more than double the $221 million fine agreed to by Columbia last week, though Harvard is reportedly reluctant to pay the government directly or allow an outside monitor to oversee the deal.The big picture: Trump's coercion of elite institutions — as both president and plaintiff — extends far beyond college campuses.Big Law: At least nine major firms — targeted for their DEI programs or ties to Trump's political enemies — have agreed to settlements, offering between $40 million and $125 million in free legal services to preserve their access to the federal government.Paramount: The CBS parent company paid $16 million this month to settle Trump's lawsuit over the editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign. The deal cleared the way for the FCC to approve Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance, triggering major backlash from Democrats and press freedom activists.Disney: ABC's parent company agreed in December to pay $16 million — primarily directed to Trump's future presidential foundation and museum — to settle a defamation lawsuit the president filed against anchor George Stephanopoulos.Meta: The tech giant paid Trump $25 million in January to settle a 2021 lawsuit that accused the company of violating his First Amendment rights by banning him from Facebook and Instagram after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.Between the lines: The few law firms that chose to fight Trump's executive orders have largely prevailed in court so far, suggesting capitulation is not the only viable path forward.Just last week, a federal judge cast serious doubt on Trump's targeting of Harvard — questioning the constitutionality of cutting off research funding over alleged antisemitism and warning of "staggering" due process concerns.What they're saying: "President Trump, the most consequential dealmaker behind the Resolute Desk, has, since day one, crafted tailor-made deals that prioritize America, its people, its enterprises, and common sense," White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in a statement."Considering the level of buy-in from our allies and industry, no one can dispute the success."What to watch: Trump officials see Columbia's settlement as a playbook for negotiations with other universities, one that combines financial penalties with internal policy changes and external oversight.Emboldened by its early success, the Trump administration this week launched new investigations and lawsuits targeting UCLA, Duke, and George Mason University.

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