Columbia Walked a Tightrope on Its Way to a $200 Million Settlement With Trump
Talks in Washington. An expert on negotiation. A balancing act. The university chose cooperation over litigation, a strategy both pilloried and praised.
July 25, 2025
Talks in Washington. An expert on negotiation. A balancing act. The university chose cooperation over litigation, a strategy both pilloried and praised.
To fend off illiberalism from the White House, the university’s president also has to confront illiberalism on campus.
President Trump suggested a deal was coming, but officials are still demanding more from the university, in a dispute over billions of research dollars.
The Transportation Safety Administration said it had explored "new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience."
The university is trying to avoid the appearance of appeasement, something other powerful institutions that made deals with President Trump found impossible.