President Donald Trump announced Monday that he would allow 600,000 Chinese students to attend American universities, as trade negotiations with China continue.
“I hear so many stories that we’re not going to allow their students,” Trump told reporters from the White House. “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.”
Currently, about 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled in US universities, according to a report by the New York Post. The president’s comments came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the US is preparing to tighten visa restrictions on Chinese nationals, particularly young students. Rubio has already noted that since the Trump administration took office, more than 4,000 foreign student visas have been revoked for criminal offenses, including DUIs, arson, and overstays.
“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 or studying in critical fields,” Rubio said in May.
Trump’s announcement comes amid ongoing trade talks with Beijing. On Monday, he was asked in the Oval Office if he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“President Xi would like me to come to China. It’s a very important relationship. As you know, we are taking a lot of money in from China because of the tariffs and different things,” Trump said.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, alongside Rubio, Trump again addressed the issue of Chinese students.
“I told this to President Xi that we’re honored to have their students here,” Trump added. “Now, with that, we check and we’re careful, we see who is there.”
