Trump floats accepting 600,000 Chinese students as part of trade talks

President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters at the White House that the United States is prepared to accept as many as 600,000 Chinese students as part of his trade talks with Beijing.

Trump announced massive tariffs on China earlier this year as part of his retaliatory tariffs. China had the highest rate with the U.S. imposing tariffs as high as 145%. Trump has also threatened a 200% tariff on Chinese magnets if selling magnets is not part of the trade deal. 

The president made the announcement before a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Trump was also asked when he would sit down with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Washington Examiner reported. 

“I’d like to meet him this year. President Xi would like me to come to China,” he said. “We’re taking a lot of money in from China because of the tariffs and different things.… It’s a much better relationship economically than it was before with [former President Joe] Biden. I mean, they just took him to the cleaners.

“We’re going to allow, it’s very important, 600,000 students,” Trump continued. “We’re going to get along with China. But it’s a different relationship that we have now with China.”

Trump previously commented that the United States would accept Chinese college students but did not give a number regarding how many students would be accepted on visas. In 2024, there were more than 270,000 Chinese students enrolled at U.S. universities.

The potential influx also comes as the Trump administration cracks down on student visas, including for Chinese students, who the State Department and Department of Homeland Security have accused of taking advantage of the U.S. student visa system.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.