Trump calls Harvard case judge a ‘Total disaster’ as legal battle over federal funds escalates

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized District Judge Allison Burroughs, who is presiding over Harvard University’s lawsuit seeking to restore more than $2 billion in frozen federal funding. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the judge as a “TOTAL DISASTER” and “an automatic ‘loss’ for the People of our Country.”

Judge Burroughs, appointed by former President Barack Obama, heard arguments in federal court on Monday as Harvard pushes to regain access to research grants and contracts that were frozen earlier this year. The case is one of several legal and political clashes between the Trump administration and elite academic institutions.

“How did this Trump-hating Judge get these cases? When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN,” Trump wrote, as reported by Financial Times. He also claimed that Burroughs had “systematically taken over” Harvard-related legal matters.


While Burroughs has yet to issue a decision on the funding freeze, she previously blocked the administration’s attempt to restrict Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, a move that drew praise from academic circles and criticism from conservative political leaders.

The administration froze the funding earlier this year, accusing Harvard of violating federal anti-discrimination laws, particularly related to the university’s handling of campus protests and treatment of Jewish students during the Israel–Hamas war. The White House has also sent letters to federal agencies questioning Harvard’s accreditation and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Trump further accused Harvard of being “anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America,” adding, “Harvard has $52 Billion Dollars sitting in the Bank… the Government will stop the practice of giving many Billions of Dollars to Harvard, much of which had been given without explanation.”

Tensions between the Trump administration and the Ivy League university have intensified in recent months. In June, the White House suggested a possible agreement was near, but the latest remarks and legal maneuvers indicate continued friction.

Trump’s criticisms are part of a broader campaign against elite universities, which he pledged to target during his 2024 campaign. Harvard, for its part, has called the federal actions retaliatory and warned of long-term damage to academic independence and international partnerships.