ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to redirect $3 billion in federal grants from Harvard University to trade schools across the country, intensifying his administration's pressure campaign against the Ivy League institution.

"I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed."

Trump, in a separate post, said Harvard is "very slow" in presenting the foreign student lists demanded by the administration to determine which "radicalized lunatics" should be barred from returning to the country.

The administration has already moved to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students, a directive temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said last week the administration would hold Harvard accountable for "fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus."

The Trump administration has frozen $3 billion in federal funding and threatened Harvard's tax-exempt status, citing campus Palestine protests and diversity programs.

Harvard responded by suing the administration, alleging First Amendment violations and unlawful presidential interference with Internal Revenue Service operations.

Trump previously told Harvard to use its $52 billion endowment rather than seeking federal grants.