WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration may be nearing a deal with Harvard University.

Speaking to reporters at a White House briefing, Trump said his administration had already secured "unprecedented" settlements with several major universities and suggested Harvard could be next.

He claimed credit for having "secured unprecedented settlements with Brown University, Columbia University and many other colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania.”

Turning to Harvard, he said discussions were ongoing but expressed uncertainty about the outcome.

"We’re working with Harvard right now. They’ve been very anti-Semitic, terrible what they’ve done, and we’ll see what happens.

"I hear we have a deal, but who the hell knows. They have a lawyer that wants to show how hot he is," he added.

"We're working with Harvard right now," Trump said.

The Trump administration has controversially pressured several universities, including Harvard, over their handling of campus protests — including pro-Palestine demonstrations — as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.