Trump offers top universities funds if they boost conservative ideas

Brown and MIT among nine schools told to back conservative views or risk losing federal support, sparking free speech fears

Donald Trump is offering nine top universities a deal in which they would agree to advance conservative ideas on their campuses and commit to a range of other conditions in exchange for federal funding.

The extraordinary offer, which was sent out from the White House on Wednesday, presents the universities with a 10-point compact". As a sweetener, any university that signs up to the deal is promised multiple positive benefits", including substantial and meaningful federal grants".