'Without them, America’s college system would collapse': Trump welcomes 600,000 Chinese Students in US

Trump says US colleges would 'go to hell' without Chinese students

Trump Says 600,000 Chinese Students Welcome in U.S., Warns Colleges Would ‘Go to Hell’ Without Them Amid MAGA Backlash

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will allow 600,000 students from China to study in the country, emphasizing what he called a “different” and improved relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping under his leadership.

Speaking during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the Oval Office, Trump said: “We are going to allow their students to come in. It's very important — 600,000 students,” as reported by the Associated Press.

Trump said he welcomes students from China and other nations to pursue education in the US, asserting that “without them, America’s college system would collapse.” His comments mark a notable shift from earlier policies that aimed to “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students,” a change he attributed to warming ties with Beijing.

“I like that their students come here. I like that other countries’ students come here. And you know what would happen if they didn’t? Our college system would go to hell very quickly," Trump added.

“At some point, probably during this year or shortly thereafter, we’ll go to China,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a great relationship with China.”

This policy reversal represents a significant departure from the Trump administration’s earlier hardline immigration stance. It has sparked criticism from members of his own "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) base, who see the move as inconsistent with his previous tough approach to China and student visa scrutiny.

This comes just a day after Trump threatened China with 200 percent tariffs unless Beijing supplied the U.S. with key magnets. “We have to charge them a 200% tariff or something,” he said, amid an escalating trade dispute over rare earths and supply chains.