Trump Discusses Chinese Students Studying in the U.S.
In a recent interview, President Donald Trump expressed his belief that allowing Chinese students to study in the United States is the right decision. He emphasized that fostering positive relationships with other countries is important.
During the hour-long conversation with Daily Caller, Trump elaborated on his stance. He mentioned how it would be “very insulting” to suggest that students from other countries should not be welcome. He observed that limiting their presence could negatively impact “lesser colleges” while adding that prestigious universities wouldn’t face the same struggles.
Below is a part of the conversation between the caller and the president. A full transcript is expected to be available soon.
Daily Caller Correspondent Reagan Lease: There are still about 600,000 Chinese students studying here.
Trump: Yes, that’s over two years.
Lease: Is this a tactic for negotiation, or do you genuinely believe this will benefit the country?
Trump: I think it’s insulting to the country. I maintain a good relationship with President Xi. When you state that you’re not accepting their students, it feels humiliating. They have around 300,000 to 600,000 students here, and that’s good for our system. Removing them wouldn’t just affect a few colleges but could hurt lower-tier universities too.
Lease: Are you suggesting that Harvard should just close its doors? Some conservatives might say, “Let those elite universities fail.” But could that impact smaller institutions?
Trump: I don’t want them to fail. I want them to thrive, but I also want fairness. They aren’t treated fairly at times. Our education system is the best in the world, and I think that excluding students is quite insulting. It would harm the entire education system. And let’s not forget—I have a good rapport with China, and they are substantially investing in us. They are paying us a lot.
Lease: Indeed.
Trump: It’s quite bold to say we don’t want their students.
Lease: Absolutely.
Trump: I believe this is beneficial for us as well, especially since our relationship with China is strong.
Lease: Is there any specific action you’d like to take to ensure that these students can keep coming?
Trump: No, I don’t want anything in exchange. We’re doing fine; they pay us a significant amount. They paid Biden too, right? Many are unaware that I had this plan early in my first term. When COVID hit, telling countries like Italy, France, and Spain about potential tariffs was challenging. But what we’re advocating is right. It’s worthwhile to build good relations with other countries, especially those with nuclear capabilities. I believe it’s advantageous to maintain these connections. Regarding the Ukraine-Russia scenario, I would never have initiated such conflicts; many young lives would have been spared.
Trump articulated a new policy on August 25, which states that Chinese students would continue to be welcomed unless they pose a national security risk. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously mentioned that the administration considered revoking visas for Chinese students. The president discussed these policy changes during a recent cabinet meeting, indicating his approval of having Chinese students in the U.S.
