Observers stunned as Nikki Haley takes harder line than Trump on Chinese student visa plan
In a surprising turn of events, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has openly criticized former President Donald Trump’s plan to allow 600,000 Chinese students to study in the United States, calling it a “massive mistake.” Haley expressed her concerns on X, stating that such a move would be a “huge gift to China and a threat to the United States.” This statement caught many conservatives off guard, as they did not anticipate Haley taking a more hardline stance on immigration and China than Trump himself. Conservative commentators reacted with a mix of surprise and agreement, with some noting that Haley’s position represents a shift in the immigration debate within the Republican Party. For instance, Greg Lawson, a conservative analyst, acknowledged he rarely agrees with Haley but found her stance on this issue to be correct.
The controversy stems from Trump’s initial proposal, which he floated in August, alarming critics who have long warned about potential Chinese espionage at U.S. universities. According to federal data, over 277,000 Chinese students were enrolled in U.S. institutions during the 2023-2024 academic year. The White House later clarified that the 600,000 figure referred to two years’ worth of student visas, indicating a continuation of existing policy rather than an increase in admissions. Trump defended his proposal during a recent appearance on Fox News, arguing that cutting the number of international students could harm American colleges and universities, which rely on foreign tuition to remain financially viable. However, his comments were met with skepticism, particularly from Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who highlighted concerns about Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft.
Haley’s critique has sparked a broader discussion about the implications of admitting a large number of Chinese students, especially given China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, which mandates that citizens assist the Chinese Communist Party in intelligence efforts. Lawmakers have raised alarms about the potential for these students to be pressured into stealing sensitive information. As the immigration debate intensifies within the GOP, Haley’s unexpected alignment on this issue may signal a shift in how the party approaches foreign student admissions and national security concerns. With rising tensions between the U.S. and China, the implications of such policies will likely be a focal point in the upcoming 2024 election cycle.
Former Trump U.N. ambassador
Nikki Haley
warned Thursday that President Donald Trump’s plan to allow 600,000 Chinese students to study in the United States would be a “massive mistake.”
“That would be a huge gift to China and a threat to the United States,” Haley
wrote on X.
Haley’s criticism surprised many conservatives who said they did not expect her to take a harder line than Trump on China and immigration.
“I did not have Nikki Haley being to Trump’s right on immigration issues on my 2025 bingo card,” wrote X user S.A. McCarthy, an editor at The American Spectator magazine.
TRUMP’S CHINESE STUDENT VISA PUSH SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AMID RISING CCP ‘INFLUENCE’ IN US
“I rarely agree with
Nikki Haley
. I think she is far too much of a throwback to failed George W. Bush era thinking,” wrote conservative analyst Greg Lawson. “BUT, on this specific issue, she is right.”
Others questioned the economic logic behind the policy.
“America has a shortage of workers in tech and we are training foreign nationals?” one user asked.
“Holy s—! I haven’t agreed with anything Nikki Haley has said in I don’t remember when,” wrote another. “It is insane for the Trump administration to allow 600K foreigners into American colleges — not because they are Chinese, but because the cost of college is already too high. Reduce demand = reduce costs.”
“When Nikki Haley is to the right of you, you’re making a big mistake,” another user quipped.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Trump is now to the left of Nikki Haley,” added another.
Trump first floated the 600,000 figure in August, alarming critics who have long warned about Chinese espionage at U.S. universities. More than 277,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. during the 2023–2024 academic year, according to federal data.
The
White House
later clarified that the 600,000 figure referred to two years’ worth of visas, meaning the proposal represented a continuation of current policy rather than a doubling of admissions.
REP. GREENE RAISES RED FLAG AFTER TRUMP INDICATES US WILL ACCEPT 600,000 CHINESE STUDENTS
Trump defended the plan Monday on Fox News.
“We do have a lot of
people coming in from China
. We always have — China and other countries,” he said. “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.
“I actually think it’s good to have outside countries. Look, I want to be able to get along with the world — not the French, though.”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham pushed back. “The Chinese, they spy on us, they steal our intellectual property,” she said.
“Do you think the French are better?” Trump replied.
“Yeah,” Ingraham shot back.
“I’m not so sure,” Trump said, citing French tariffs. “It’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business. One thing you don’t want to do is cut half the students from all over the world who are coming into our country and destroy our entire university system. I don’t want to do that.”
China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law requires all citizens and organizations to assist the Chinese Communist Party’s intelligence efforts in the name of national security, a key concern among U.S. lawmakers warning that Chinese students and researchers can be pressured to steal sensitive data on behalf of Beijing.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
