Trump allows 6 lakh Chinese students into US universities, sparking MAGA backlash.
US President Donald Trump has announced that six lakh Chinese students will be allowed to study in American universities. The move marks a sharp shift from his earlier tough stance on Chinese visas.
While Trump called the students “very important,” his own supporters in the MAGA camp accused him of betraying the “America First” agenda.
Speaking from the Oval Office, 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.”
At the same time, he warned Beijing to ensure the supply of rare earth magnets to the US or face a 200% tariff. Trump assured that these trade tensions would not affect students.
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This decision comes at a time when US and Beijing are holding fragile talks on tariffs, rare earth supplies, and advanced AI semiconductors. Trump’s remarks show that even as he pressures China on trade, he wants to keep education exchanges open.
Trump’s announcement did not go down well with his core supporters. MAGA activist Laura Loomer launched a scathing attack. On X, she wrote, “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.”
In another post, she asked, “When did any China man or Muslim Make America Great?” She also claimed, “Now that we are importing 600,000 CCP spies, what’s the point of American students going into STEM?”
Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the anger. She wrote, “We should not let in 600,000 CHINESE students to attend American colleges and universities that may be loyal to the CCP.”
Despite the backlash, Trump’s team stood firmly behind him. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News, “Without allowing the Chinese students, the bottom 15 per cent of universities would go out of business in America. President Trump’s taking a rational economic view.”
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This argument highlights the financial dependence of many US colleges on international students, especially from China.
The move surprised many because only in May, Trump’s administration had announced stricter visa rules for Chinese nationals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said at that time, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party.”
That earlier stance reflected the “America First” approach. Trump’s latest announcement now appears to soften that position in favour of economic and diplomatic goals.
This clash has opened a bigger debate in America, that is universities should depend on foreign students to survive, or should they prioritize American students? Trump’s move underlines how economic reality often collides with nationalist politics.
The MAGA backlash demonstrates that, in the lead-up to elections, immigration and education will continue to be highly contentious topics.
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