The White House has clarified President Donald Trump’s remarks concerning Chinese students in the United States. According to the White House, Trump’s statements did not indicate an intention to allow 600,000 new Chinese students to come to the country. This figure, it said, referred to the approximately 300,000 Chinese students enrolled in American universities over the last two years.
Trump had previously stated, “I’ve heard many stories that we will not allow Chinese students to come here. We will allow them to come. 600,000 students are very important to us, we will work together with China.” These comments followed criticisms of Trump’s visa policies for Chinese students. Currently, over 270,000 Chinese students are studying in the United States, which is a decrease from the more than 372,000 students in the 2019-2020 academic year. In 2023, the number fell to 277,000.
A White House official clarified that Trump is not proposing to increase student visas for Chinese students. The 600,000 figure represents visas issued over a two-year period and is an extension of the existing policy. Trump also mentioned the possibility of imposing a 200% tariff if China doesn’t supply the US with magnets, which are essential for the automotive, electronics, and defense industries. He further assured that Chinese students will still be allowed to study in the United States.
Trump’s comments sparked opposition in the United States. Laura Loomer, a right-wing political activist, criticized Trump on social media, calling Chinese students communist party spies and accusing him of weakening his America First agenda. Loomer wrote, “I didn’t vote to invite more Muslims and Chinese people into my country… Please don’t make America China. We don’t want more immigrants.” She tagged White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, stating, “I don’t want 600,000 communist spies in America. China killed 1.2 million Americans. Now they are taking our place? That cannot happen.”