5 hours ago
Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 07:08 IST
Trump cautioned that reducing international student enrolment could financially harm American universities, which depend significantly on the tuition fees from overseas students.
US president Donald Trump (Image: X/@WhiteHouse)
US President Donald Trump has defended the practice of allowing foreign students to study in the United States, describing it as beneficial for business and crucial for maintaining the financial health of the country’s higher education system.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump cautioned that reducing international student enrolment could financially harm American universities, which depend significantly on the tuition fees from overseas students.
“You don’t want to eliminate half of the students coming from all over the world and destroy our entire university and college system—I don’t want to do that," Trump stated. “I believe it’s beneficial to have international students. I want to get along with the world."
He explained that a significant decrease in students from countries like China could lead to the closure of numerous US colleges. Trump noted that foreign students contribute “trillions of dollars" to the US economy and pay more than double the tuition of domestic students. “I want our education system to thrive," Trump said, adding, “It’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business."
Trump’s comments contrast sharply with several actions by his administration to impose stricter restrictions on international students. Thousands of visas have been revoked, and some foreign students participating in pro-Palestinian activities have been arrested or deported.
When asked that reducing foreign enrolment could create more opportunities for American students, Trump disagreed, arguing that such a measure would negatively impact smaller colleges and historically Black universities reliant on international tuition. “Half of the US colleges would go out of business if we cut that in half," he asserted.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed US embassies to temporarily suspend student visa interviews, later allowing them to resume with stricter checks.
The administration has proposed a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," which aims to limit international students to 15 per cent of total undergraduate enrolment, with no more than 5 per cent from any single country. Leading institutions have opposed these measures.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
November 12, 2025, 07:08 IST
News world 'Don't Want Them, But I See It…': Trump On Foreign Students Amid US Visa Crackdown
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