In a move aimed at preserving a fragile trade truce with Beijing, US President Donald Trump has allowed 600,000 Chinese students to study at American universities, igniting anger among his staunchest supporters.
The decision marks a sharp departure from the administration’s earlier pledge to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese nationals, particularly those tied to the Communist Party or sensitive research fields.
“We’re going to allow their students to come in. It’s very important, 600,000 students. It’s very important. But we’re going to get along with China,” Trump said.
He added that Beijing must ensure Washington access to rare earth magnets or face tariffs of 200 per cent, though Chinese students would continue to be admitted to US institutions.
The announcement comes as Washington and Beijing navigate high-stakes trade negotiations.
The two largest economies remain at odds over tariffs, rare earth supplies crucial for American industries, and China’s access to US-made advanced AI chips. While Trump has sought to strike a balance, his core supporters see the concession as a betrayal of his “America First” agenda.
Conservative commentator Laura Loomer, a vocal Trump ally, denounced the move in a series of online posts, branding Chinese students as “CCP spies”.
“I didn’t vote for more Muslims and Chinese people to be imported to my country… Please don’t Make America China. MAGA doesn’t want more immigrants,” Loomer wrote on X.
In another post, she tagged White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, warning: “Nobody, I repeat nobody, wants 600,000 more Chinese ‘students’ aka Communist spies in the United States. China murdered 1.2 million Americans. Now they get to replace us? This cannot happen.”
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Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the criticism, claiming the influx would disadvantage American students. “We should not let in 600,000 CHINESE students to attend American colleges and universities that may be loyal to the CCP… Why are we allowing 600,000 students from China to replace our American student’s opportunities? We should never allow that,” Greene said.
Other MAGA figures joined in. John Strand, convicted for storming the Capitol on January 6, said, “We educate our enemies. This isn’t academic exchange. It’s exploitation.”
The far-right account Libs of TikTok warned of organised “spy rings” in US universities, while another pro-Trump handle, ‘Chief Trumpster’, labelled the plan “mass importation” that would take jobs and education opportunities from Americans.
Despite the pushback, Trump appears unwilling to escalate tensions with Beijing. In May 2025, US-China trade in goods reached $28 billion, including $19 billion in imports, underscoring the scale of economic interdependence.
China, one of America’s largest creditors and its third-biggest trading partner, has also shown its ability to retaliate politically.
Earlier this year, during tariff exchanges, Beijing quietly restricted US exports of beef, poultry and natural gas, measures that hurt American farmers and energy producers — groups central to Trump’s political base.
As Trump attempts to balance economic diplomacy with campaign promises, the risk of alienating the supporters who propelled him to power has become increasingly clear.
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