Overview

• A White House spokesperson said the 600,000 figure reflects roughly two years of student visas under existing rules, not a new policy or added slots for Chinese nationals.
• Trump praised the presence of Chinese students this week, citing their financial importance to colleges, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick argued many universities rely on international tuition.
• The remarks collided with earlier administration steps to tighten screening and revoke some visas for Chinese nationals, highlighting internal tension over security versus academic and economic priorities.
• National security voices, including Gordon Chang, warned of espionage risks, as others suggested the student-visa discussion also factors into ongoing trade negotiations with Beijing.
• There were about 277,398 Chinese students in U.S. universities in 2023–24, and separate reporting described proposals to cap visa durations for categories such as F, J and I, with tighter limits discussed for Chinese nationals.