Trump says US colleges would struggle without Chinese students, proposes 600,000 student visas

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended a proposal to grant 600,000 student visas to Chinese nationals, arguing that American colleges rely heavily on their enrollment. The remarks came as Washington and Beijing continued trade negotiations, and they quickly drew criticism from conservative allies who viewed the move as inconsistent with Trump’s America First agenda and past restrictive visa policies.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I hear so many stories that we’re not going to allow their students. We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China.”

The president emphasised that strict vetting procedures would remain in place but stressed that Chinese students play a vital role in sustaining US higher education institutions financially.

The proposal marks a notable shift from previous Trump-era measures that tightened scrutiny on Chinese nationals. Earlier policies included revoking visas of students suspected of ties to the Chinese Communist Party and limiting their access to sensitive research areas. It also stands in contrast to the State Department’s May announcement that it would aggressively revoke visas for certain Chinese students.