Trump accepts entry of 600,000 Chinese students into US colleges, spurring backlash from MAGA supporters

US President Donald Trump has declared plans to allow 600,000 Chinese students to study at American colleges, marking a sharp shift from prior visa restrictions and signaling a possible diplomatic overture amid tense trade negotiations with China. Currently, approximately 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled in the US.

“We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important... But we’re going to get along with China,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

This announcement comes after his previous administration had undertaken efforts to revoke visas of Chinese students linked to the Communist Party or those pursuing sensitive fields, citing national security concerns. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier outlined a policy to “aggressively revoke visas” for such students.

Trump’s announcement triggered immediate criticism from conservative MAGA adherents, who viewed the move as a betrayal of the “America First” platform.

Laura Loomer, a vocal MAGA figure, attacked the decision on X, calling Chinese students “CCP spies” and warning against importing them into America.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also condemned the policy, questioning the impact on American student opportunities and dismissing the move as favoring potential foreign influence.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the policy during a Fox News appearance, stating that without Chinese student enrollments, "the bottom 15% of universities would go out of business in America," framing the decision as economically pragmatic.

The announcement comes amid a fragile trade truce between the US and China. Recent policy shifts, including warnings of a 200% tariff on Chinese-made magnets reflect an escalating negotiation environment where educational exchange is positioned as part of broader diplomatic maneuvering.