US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that Chinese students currently studying in the United States have no reason to worry, despite his administration’s efforts to tighten oversight on international academic programs. His remarks followed recent government steps aimed at re-evaluating student visa permissions, particularly those involving individuals from China.
“They’re going to be ok. It’s going to work out fine,” Trump told reporters when questioned about the future of Chinese students attending U.S. universities. He also noted, “We just want to check out the individual students we have. And that’s true with all colleges.”
Trump’s comments came just one day after a federal judge decided to continue blocking his administration’s attempt to stop Harvard University from admitting international students. The legal setback has added to ongoing tensions between the White House and academic institutions across the country.
This week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that visa revocations for Chinese students would continue. He stated that the U.S. would act “aggressively” in pulling visas, particularly for those involved in political activism, especially protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Rubio’s office has already canceled thousands of student visas. Some of those were due to relatively minor offenses, such as traffic violations, in addition to political reasons.
The Trump administration’s friction with higher education has grown more intense, especially with top-tier universities like Harvard. The government has requested a list of certain international students, which Harvard has so far refused to provide.
“I don’t know why Harvard’s not giving us the list. There’s something going on because Harvard is not giving us a list,” Trump said, raising suspicions about the school’s refusal.
“They ought to give us a list and get themselves out of trouble,” he added. “They don’t want to give the list because they have names on there that supposedly are quite bad.”
Despite these remarks, Trump appeared to strike a more reassuring tone regarding the general well-being of Chinese students. He said his administration wants individuals who “can love our country and take care of our country and cherish our country.”
Meanwhile, Harvard University President Alan Garber received a strong show of support during recent graduation ceremonies. Graduates gave him a standing ovation lasting nearly a minute after he called on universities to stand “firm” against the Trump administration’s ongoing pressure.
International students make up just under six percent of all university students in the U.S. — far below countries like the United Kingdom, where roughly 25 percent of students come from overseas. Despite the lower numbers, international students, particularly those from China, continue to be a key part of the academic landscape in the United States.
