Fox News’ Laura Ingraham did not let President Donald Trump off the hook on Monday as she pressed him on allowing a flood of Chinese students to study in the U.S.
Trump confirmed in August that the administration will allow 600,000 Chinese students to attend U.S. colleges and universities to continue the nation’s “very important relationship” with China. Ingraham, on “The Ingraham Angle,” continued to ask the president how allowing this many Chinese students to be admitted into U.S. schools is a “pro-MAGA position.”
“Why, sir, is that a pro-MAGA position when so many American kids want to go to school and there are places not for them and these universities are getting rich off Chinese money?”
“[I] never said about China, but we do have a lot of people coming in from China. We always have China and other countries. We also have a massive system of colleges and universities. And if we were to cut that in half, which perhaps makes some people happy, you would have half the colleges in the United States go out of business,” Trump said, prompting Ingraham to doubt that the U.S. relies on China to keep universities open.Â
WATCH:
Ingraham reminded Trump that the Chinese government spies on Americans and steals intellectual property from the U.S. Trump stated that he views his policy as a business transaction in order to have a good relationship with China and to ensure that American universities continue thriving.
“I know you and I disagree. We’re never going to agree on it, but that’s OK. And it’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business. We have millions and millions of people. Also, I want to get along with countries if possible … But one thing, you don’t want to cut half of the people, half of the students from all over the world that are coming into our country, destroy our entire university and college system. I don’t want to do that. I wouldn’t lose any. And don’t forget, MAGA was my idea. MAGA was nobody else’s idea,” Trump said.Â
The U.S. and China reached an agreement in June to allow Chinese students to attend U.S. colleges and universities, which came after the administration suspended Harvard University’s ability to admit foreign nationals on June 5. The administration cited national security concerns and allegations of antisemitism on college campuses in its efforts to restrict foreign students from entering the U.S.
Trump previously acknowledged the potential national security risk of allowing Chinese students into U.S. colleges and universities, stating in June that “you have to watch” students from the nation governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Analysts told the Daily Caller News Foundation that this policy could help the CCP take advantage of higher education in America and pose serious national security risks.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
