The comments are the latest volley in an escalating battle between the White House and one of the nation's most prestigious colleges.

The Trump administration is going head-to-head with Harvard University to install changes to the academic institution’s governance and admissions process.

Tensions are rising across American academia as the Trump administration froze over $2 billion in multi-year grants and contracts at Harvard University after its leaders refused to make key policy changes the White House also is demanding of other elite US colleges.