Fox News’ Laura Ingraham challenged President Donald Trump on Monday regarding his administration’s decision to allow a large number of Chinese students to attend U.S. colleges and universities, questioning whether the policy aligns with his “Make America Great Again” agenda.
During an exchange on “The Ingraham Angle,” Ingraham pushed the President on his August confirmation that 600,000 Chinese students would be permitted to study in the U.S. as part of maintaining a “very important relationship” with China.
“Why, sir, is that a pro-MAGA position when so many American kids want to go to school and there are places not for them and these universities are getting rich off Chinese money?” Ingraham asked.
President Trump defended the policy, arguing that a significant reduction in foreign enrollment could have catastrophic consequences for American higher education.
“We also have a massive system of colleges and universities. And if we were to cut that in half… you would have half the colleges in the United States go out of business,” Trump stated.
Ingraham countered by pointing to the risks of Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft, reminding the President of national security concerns.
Trump acknowledged their disagreement but framed his stance as a practical business decision vital for the financial health of U.S. institutions and for maintaining international ties.
“It’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business… you don’t want to cut half of the students from all over the world that are coming into our country, destroy our entire university and college system. I don’t want to do that,” Trump explained.
The policy follows a June agreement between the U.S. and China, which came shortly after the administration temporarily restricted Harvard University’s ability to admit foreign nationals, citing national security and campus antisemitism concerns. Trump had previously acknowledged the need to “watch” students from the nation governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
READ: Trump Rips ‘Rogue’ Judges, Defends Putin Call, And Vows War On China’s ‘Trillion-Dollar Ripoff’
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