Trump’s Foreign Student Stance Flip-Flops: From “Don’t Want Them” to Economic Necessity

Former President Donald Trump made a significant reversal on foreign student policy. He now defends their presence in the United States. Trump discussed the issue in a recent Fox News interview.

He argued that cutting foreign student numbers would financially devastate American universities. This new stance contrasts sharply with restrictive policies from his administration. According to Reuters, he stated the system would go “out of business” without them.

The Financial Argument for Keeping Foreign Students

Trump framed the issue as a simple business calculation. He admitted foreign students pay more than double the tuition of domestic students. This revenue is critical for many institutions.

He specifically warned that historically Black colleges could fail. Trump acknowledged that half of some student bodies come from abroad. His conclusion was that cutting them would destroy the entire university system.

A Stark Policy Reversal and Its Impact

This new position directly contradicts Trump’s earlier actions. His administration previously revoked thousands of student visas. It also imposed strict social media vetting for applicants.

Officials targeted top schools like Harvard over international admissions. A proposed compact sought to cap foreign undergraduate enrollment at 15%. These past efforts created uncertainty for universities and students alike.

The current shift highlights the economic weight of international education. Universities rely on the higher fees these students pay. This financial dependency now appears to be driving political rhetoric.

The evolving debate over foreign students now centers on economics versus immigration control. Trump’s latest comments reveal a tension between policy goals and financial reality. The future for international scholars in the U.S. remains uncertain.

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What did Trump say about foreign students recently?

He defended their presence, calling it “good” for the country. Trump argued that removing them would cause universities to go “out of business” due to lost revenue from their higher tuition fees.

Why is this a change from his previous policy?

His administration previously revoked visas and imposed strict vetting. They proposed caps on how many foreign students a university could enroll, seeking to reduce overall numbers significantly.

What financial reason did he give?

Trump stated foreign students often pay more than double the tuition. He framed their enrollment as a business necessity for the survival of the higher education system, including historically Black colleges.

What was the proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence”?

It was a plan to cap international undergraduate students at 15% of a school’s population. No single country could account for more than 5% of the student body under this proposal.

How did the administration handle student visas before?

Officials paused scheduling for visa appointments for a review. They later resumed with stricter vetting, including checks of applicants’ social media profiles, creating longer processing times.