Trump Signals Openness to 600,000 Chinese Students in Trade Talks with Beijing

In a move that caught many off guard, President Donald Trump on Monday said he would be open to allowing 600,000 Chinese students to attend U.S. colleges marking a diplomatic shift amid ongoing, high-stakes trade talks with Beijing.

“I hear so many stories that we're not going to allow their students,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “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.”

The announcement came just ahead of a scheduled meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and as U.S.-China trade negotiations continue behind the scenes. While Trump’s comments signal an openness to student exchanges, they do not indicate a softening on trade or national security quite the opposite.

Earlier this year, Trump hit Beijing with a 145% tariff on all Chinese goods, prompting immediate retaliation from China in the form of a 125% levy on U.S. exports. Talks in Geneva temporarily paused further tariff escalation, but Trump has continued to apply pressure, even floating a 200% tariff on Chinese-made magnets last week, calling out China’s near-total control over the global magnet supply chain.

“China, intelligently, went and they sort of took a monopoly on the world’s magnets,” Trump said. “It’ll probably take us a year to have them.”

Currently, approximately 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled in American universities, mostly in STEM fields. That number could more than double under Trump’s latest remarks. But this isn’t about charity it’s about leverage.

Trump’s comments signal a strategic carrot-and-stick approach welcome Chinese students to benefit American universities and economy, but only on America’s terms, and only while maintaining strict controls over espionage and research access.

Let’s not forget: In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio (now a central figure in Trump’s administration) announced plans to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese nationals with ties to the Communist Party or sensitive research sectors. That policy hasn’t gone anywhere. Trump’s openness to students appears targeted students, not spies.

This is classic Trump negotiate from strength.

• Hit China with tariffs that actually work.

• Keep national security as the top priority.

• Use student admissions as a calculated tool, not a giveaway.

And unlike the Biden administration, which blindly enabled Beijing’s aggression while sending billions to foreign programs, Trump is prioritizing American interests at every level.

When asked about a potential summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump was diplomatic but firm:

“It’s a much better relationship economically than it was before with Biden. But he allowed that. They just took him to the cleaners.”

Trump’s strategy is clear: Make the deal, but don’t get played. Chinese students may come but the CCP won’t get a free pass.

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