Trump Reverses Course on Foreign Students, Citing Financial Benefits to US Higher Education System

Since assuming office in January, the Trump administration has canceled thousands of student visas across the country.

In a significant reversal of his immigration policies, US President Donald Trump has expressed support for allowing international students to study at American universities. The President stated that foreign students benefit business practices and help maintain the financial stability of the nation's higher education system.

During an interview with Fox News, Trump distanced himself from the MAGA (Make America Great Again) platform, arguing that drastically reducing student numbers from China and other nations could financially devastate half of American colleges.

"You don't want to eliminate half of the students from around the world coming into our country—that would destroy our entire university and college system—I don't want that outcome," Trump explained to Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

"I genuinely believe it's beneficial to have international participation. Look, I want to maintain good relations with the world," he continued.

When questioned about why he wouldn't decrease the number of foreign students—particularly from China—Trump explained that such action would financially damage the American higher education system and force many institutions, including historically Black colleges, to close.

"We have numerous students coming from China and other countries. We also have an extensive network of colleges and universities. If we reduced that by half, which might please some people, half the colleges in the United States would go bankrupt," Trump stated.

"We generate trillions of dollars from students. Foreign students typically pay more than double the tuition of domestic students. I want our educational system to prosper... It's not that I particularly want them here, but I view it as a business matter."

Trump's statements directly contradict his second administration's immigration policies, which have specifically targeted international students. Since January, his administration has canceled thousands of visas, detained students involved in pro-Palestinian activities, and implemented stricter application requirements.

The Trump team has also scrutinized prestigious American institutions, including Harvard and Stanford, regarding their handling of international student applications and compliance with visa regulations.

Harvard University challenged the administration's attempt to prevent the school from admitting foreign students, resulting in a US court blocking enforcement of the ban, though the US is appealing that decision.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed US embassies worldwide to halt scheduling student visa interviews. The administration later resumed these interviews but with more rigorous evaluation of applicants' social media profiles.