President Donald Trump on Friday sought to reassure Chinese students in the U.S. amid growing concerns over his administration’s tightening visa policies.
“They’re going to be okay. It’s going to work out fine,” Trump told reporters, adding that the government simply wants to verify the backgrounds of international students — a policy he said applies across all colleges.
Earlier this week, the administration announced a more aggressive stance on visas for Chinese nationals studying in the U.S., sparking concerns within the academic community. However, Trump’s comments signaled a slightly softer tone.
This comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked the government’s attempt to stop Harvard University from enrolling certain international students. Trump criticized Harvard, accusing it of withholding a list of students under government scrutiny. “They ought to give us a list and get themselves out of trouble,” he said, suggesting some names may be “quite bad.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier vowed to “aggressively” revoke visas of Chinese students, citing activism related to the Gaza conflict, traffic infractions, and other issues. Thousands of visas have reportedly already been canceled.
Harvard President Alan Garber received a standing ovation at graduation this week after urging universities to resist political pressure and defend academic freedom.
“We want people who love and cherish our country,” Trump added. Chinese students account for a significant portion of international enrollment in the U.S., though still far below the percentage seen in countries like the UK.
