Trump triggers the backlash after proposing 600,000 Chinese student visas

President Donald Trump’s plan to allow 600,000 Chinese students to issue strong right -wing criticism on Monday and Tuesday.

The proposal comes while the president is in the midst of commercial talks with China, and the donors of the plan could be necessary to maintain certain universities afloat, while others say that he could hinder the opportunities of American students.

“I hear so many stories that we are not going to authorize their students,” Trump told journalists while business discussions with China are underway.

“We are going to allow their students to come. This is very important, 600,000 students. It is very important. But we will get along with China,” he continued.

Trump developed his comments at a meeting of the cabinet at the White House on Tuesday.

“”I think it’s very insulting to say that students cannot come here because they will go out and start building schools and that they can survive it. But I like their students to come here. I like students from other countries to come here. And you know what would happen if they didn’t? Our university system would go to hell very quickly. And it would not be the best colleges, so they would be colleges that fight on the merits. And you withdraw 300,000 or 600,000 students from the system, “said Trump.

“”I like to have, and I told that to President XI that we are honored to have their students here. Now, with that, we check with caution and we see who is there, “he added.

Trump opens the door to 600,000 Chinese students in the Beijing trade discussions

Donald Trump says that 600,000 Chinese students could be authorized in the United States to study in his colleges while waiting for a potential trade agreement with China. (Fox News)

Certain immigration groups and conservative voices on social networks have expressed their opposition to the proposal.

“We must not leave 600,000 Chinese students to frequent American colleges and universities which could be faithful to the CCP,” said representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA. Posted on X Late Monday evening. “If refusing to allow these Chinese students to attend our schools failed 15% of them, these schools should in any case because they are supported by the CCP.”

“The granting of 600,000 student visas to Chinese nationals threatens to put foreign students before American graduates,” Fox News Digital Joe Chatham, director of government relations for the Federation for American immigration, told Fox News.

“The emphasis must now be placed on reforms to limit access to the crucial sectors for our economy and national security which have repeatedly targeted business spying and the flight of intellectual property-not access to hostile countries. The education of foreign nationals should never be put before the interests of American citizens and ensure that our country spreads,” he continued.

Commerce secretary, Howard Lungick, deepened in the point of view of the Trump administration on the issue when he supported “the angle of Ingraham”.

“With all the respect I owe you, how does 600,000 students from the Chinese Communist country set up America allowed first?” Laura Ingraham asked.

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Commerce secretary, Howard Lungick, in the Oval Office of the White House on August 6, 2025. (Bonnie Cash / Upi / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“The president’s point of view is that what would happen if you did not have these 600,000 students is that you empty them from the summit, all the students went in better schools, and the 15% of universities and the colleges would make their doors in America.”

“He adopts a rational economic vision, which is the classic Donald Trump,” added Lunick.

Many have suggested that the free market should come into play with these colleges which could be at a potential financial risk.

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“Let them go, then! What is this madness? No. We don’t want more Chinese students. We don’t want it,” wrote Conservative commentator Kira Davis.

“15% waste is not a bad thing,” said writer Ryan Girdusky on X.

“Trump’s team is not able to defend its Chinese student visa program,” said conservative lawyer Marina Medvin on X. “It’s because they don’t want it either. It is difficult to sell something you don’t like.”

Trump says he wants foreign students who do not cause problems, “slap Harvard to be” a big blow “

Banners of the Harry Elkins Widener commemorative library at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 27, 2025. (Sophie Park / Bloomberg)

“It is therefore essentially a grant to the academic world.

Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler was unleashed in Trump’s White House, saying that these Chinese students should be prohibited.

“Chinese students” are all spies for the Chinese Communist Party. They are forced to be. They steal our intellectual property. They fly our technology. They fly our interests. They comfort themselves of our soldiers, “said Wheeler on X.” Trump is expected to ban all Chinese students from American universities. Expel all. “”

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“This is the most stupid explanation I have heard. By all means, put colleges and universities to bankruptcy!” Wheeler said in response to Lutnick’s defense of Trump’s policy. “Their enterprise endoctrine students in hardened revolutionary Marxists. If you want to save America, you will have to shave the university system. Perfection of you start.”

Others agreed with LITNICK’s point of view on the issue, saying that this could actually help the United States bring more talents at the national level.

“It is not as horrible as people do. Chinese students on American visas are not average children. They represent the higher level of Chinese youth,” said Podcast host Joshua Reid on X.

“On the other hand, we organize the future leaders, scientists and innovators of China. This also means that American culture returns with them.

At the end of Lunick’s interview with Laura Ingraham, Ingraham notes that US engineering students should have priority in the labor market, noting that they are “brilliant when they have given half a chance”.

Emma Bussey of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.