Trump announced the acceptance of 600,000 Chinese students in the USA

• Trump stated the possibility of accepting 600,000 Chinese students in the USA.
• This statement sparked outrage among Republicans.
• Chinese students contributed over 14 billion dollars to the US economy in 2023.

On September 26, 2025, Washington — President Donald Trump made a statement that the USA is ready to accept 600,000 Chinese students, which caused outrage among some members of the Republican Party. This number is significantly higher than the current number of Chinese students who are studying in the country.

During a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Trump stated that it is important to maintain good relations with China and that he "has heard a lot of history about the fact that they should not be allowed in as students." He added: "We allow them to come, that is very important."

This statement became a stark contrast to the policies announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May, when it was announced about "aggressive restrictions" on visas for Chinese students and increased scrutiny of all visa applications from China.

Some Republicans, such as Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, expressed outrage regarding Trump's proposal, questioning why 600,000 Chinese students should not replace opportunities for American students. Former Trump aide Laura Loomer referred to Chinese students as "communist spies."

According to data, in the 2023-2024 academic year, nearly 277,398 Chinese students studied in the USA, which makes up more than half of the international student population in the country. They also contributed over 14 billion dollars to the American economy in 2023.

Notably, Republican lawmakers have sought to limit the influx of Chinese students. In February, the "Stop CCP VISAs Act" was introduced, which prohibits the issuance of student visas for Chinese nationals.

Trump's statements about Chinese students indicate a cooling of relations between the USA and China, although Trump also suggested imposing a 200% tariff on Chinese goods, which the country does not currently export to the USA.

Tags: USA/China/Politics