Washington— In a striking reversal of his earlier stance, U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for allowing more foreign students to study in American universities, calling them vital for both the economy and the survival of the country’s higher education system.
Speaking on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham, Trump said restricting international students — particularly those from China and other countries — would devastate the U.S. education sector.
“You don’t want to cut half of the people, half of the students from all over the world that are coming into our country — destroy our entire university and college system — I don’t want to do that,” Trump said.
He added that foreign students are “good for business practice” and help keep U.S. universities financially strong. “I actually think it’s good to have outside countries. Look, I want to be able to get along with the world,” he said.
When pressed on whether his administration would continue reducing student visas, Trump warned that cutting the flow of international students could lead to widespread financial collapse in the education sector. “If we were to cut that in half, which perhaps makes some people happy, you would have half the colleges in the United States go out of business,” he said.
Trump further emphasized the economic benefits of foreign enrollment, noting that international students contribute heavily to U.S. revenue. “We take in trillions of dollars from students. The students pay more than double when they come in from most foreign countries. I want to see our school system thrive… It’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business.”
However, Trump’s comments stand in sharp contrast to his administration’s own policies. Since returning to power in January, the White House has revoked thousands of student visas, tightened vetting procedures, and targeted top universities such as Harvard and Stanford over alleged visa irregularities.
The administration also drew criticism for arresting foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and for suspending student visa interviews earlier this year under orders from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before resuming them with stricter background checks.
In July, Harvard University successfully challenged the Trump administration’s attempt to block it from admitting foreign students, with a U.S. court ruling against the ban — a decision the government is now appealing.
Despite these hardline actions, Trump’s latest comments suggest a pragmatic acknowledgment of the U.S. higher education sector’s dependence on foreign students. Experts estimate that international students contribute over $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy through tuition, housing, and consumer spending.
Trump’s sudden shift, analysts say, could be aimed at calming growing anxiety among American universities and business leaders who fear that his immigration crackdown could cripple an industry that has long been one of the country’s most successful exports.