A letter from the Trump administration, sent to Harvard University, contained a series of demands concerning hiring, admissions, and curriculum. The demands were so extreme that Harvard decided to publicly confront the White House. A subsequent call from a Trump official revealed that the letter was unauthorized and should not have been sent. The letter was sent by Sean Keveney, acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services and a member of the White House’s antisemitism task force.
There are differing accounts within the administration regarding the letter's mishandling. Some believe it was sent prematurely, while others think it was intended for internal circulation only. Regardless of the reason, the letter's timing proved crucial, as it escalated tensions and ended any hope of a negotiated compromise between Harvard and the Trump administration.
Harvard's decision to publicly oppose the letter came after a two-week dialogue that ultimately failed to produce a deal due to the extreme nature of the demands. The letter prompted the serious confrontation between Harvard and the Trump administration.