US President Donald Trump has announced that Chinese students will continue to be welcomed into American universities, a move that has stirred criticism from his MAGA base and conservative allies.

The decision affects approximately 600,000 Chinese students, many of whom pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across US institutions. Trump described the student exchange as “very important,” despite previously pushing for tighter visa restrictions and accusing Chinese nationals of espionage in sensitive research fields.

In the same breath, Trump threatened to impose a 200 percent tariff on rare earth magnets if China blocks exports to the US. He clarified that trade tensions would not interfere with student visas, signaling a separation between educational diplomacy and economic retaliation.

The announcement drew sharp reactions from far-right figures. Activist Laura Loomer accused Trump of compromising national security, calling Chinese students “CCP spies.” Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed the sentiment, arguing that American students are being displaced and that universities dependent on foreign enrollment should be allowed to fail.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the policy, stating that without Chinese students, the bottom 15 percent of US universities would collapse financially.

This marks a notable shift from Trump’s earlier stance in May, when he advocated for aggressive visa restrictions targeting students from China and Hong Kong.