'I’ve Always Been In Favour Of...': Donald Trump's Big Statement On Indian Students Urges Them To Start Companies Locally
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong support for international students—particularly those from India and China—highlighting their contributions to the American economy and pushing for policies that would allow them to remain in the country after graduation.
Speaking at a recent press briefing, Trump stressed the need to retain top foreign talent educated at American universities, citing the potential economic impact of allowing these graduates to stay and launch startups. “I’m also in favour of having them stay,” he said. “If you get educated for four years, I think you should be allowed to remain and contribute. They go back home and start massive companies. That should be happening here.”
As reported by Financial Times, Trump said he has “always been in favour” of welcoming students from other countries, including China. The president emphasised that while national security is important and students should be vetted, such scrutiny shouldn’t prevent capable and entrepreneurial individuals from contributing to the U.S. workforce and innovation ecosystem.
China and India continue to be the largest sources of international students in the U.S., with Chinese students making up around 277,000 of the 1.1 million foreign students currently enrolled. Indian students, who now form the largest international student group, have also been central to the talent pipeline for U.S. tech firms and research institutions.
The remarks came amid growing concerns over restrictive immigration policies and heightened visa scrutiny, particularly following the Trump administration’s travel ban and recent calls by Republican Senator Marco Rubio to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals over alleged security risks. Trump’s statement suggests a potential softening of the hardline approach, particularly as he referenced an unspecified agreement with China regarding the use of American colleges and universities by Chinese students.
“If Apple wants to hire a great student from China or India, they should be able to,” Trump said, referring to visa rules that often prevent international graduates from staying in the U.S. “That’s how you grow businesses and keep talent.”
His comments come at a time when several U.S. universities have raised alarm over the chilling effect of visa restrictions and increased security vetting on international student enrolments. Some institutions have advised incoming students from countries affected by visa delays or travel bans to defer their admissions.
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