The White House on Thursday clarified President Donald Trump’s remarks about Chinese students, stressing that he is not allowing 600,000 new arrivals into the United States.
Instead, officials said the number referenced by Trump reflects a two-year total of the approximately 300,000 Chinese students already enroled in American universities.
In a statement to Fox News, a White House official said, “President Trump isn’t proposing an increase in student visas for Chinese students. The 6,00,000 references two years worth of visas. It’s simply a continuation of existing policy.”
TRUMP IGNITES BACKLASH AFTER OPENING DOOR TO CHINESE STUDENTS
Trump’s plan to allow Chinese student visas to be issued drew strong criticism as conservatives interpreted his comments as a signal to increase visa allocations.
On Tuesday, during a Cabinet meeting, Trump said, “We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important, 600,000 students. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China.” He tied the remark to ongoing trade negotiations, warning that Beijing must grant Washington access to rare earth magnets or face 200 percent tariffs, while assuring that Chinese students would still be permitted to study in the US.
But for some of the President’s staunchest supporters, the nuance was lost. Far-right political activist Laura Loomer blasted the statement in a string of social media posts, calling Chinese students “CCP spies” and accusing Trump of undermining his “America First” agenda.
“I didn’t vote for more Muslims and Chinese people to be imported to my country… Please don’t Make America China. MAGA doesn’t want more immigrants,” she wrote.
Another post went further, tagging White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller: “Nobody, I repeat nobody, wants 600,000 more Chinese ‘students’ aka Communist spies in the United States. China murdered 1.2 million Americans. Now they get to replace us? This cannot happen.”
CHINESE STUDENTS IN US UNDER CURRENT VISAS
Currently, more than 270,000 Chinese students are studying across the US under existing visa frameworks. Enrollment peaked at over 372,000 in 2019–2020 but has since dropped to about 277,000 in 2023, amid souring bilateral relations and growing scrutiny over educational partnerships.
However, Trump defended the presence of Chinese students, telling reporters, “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, 600,000 students. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China.”
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