NEW: White House Brings Out Receipts, Shuts Down Anti-Trump Narrative

The White House is hitting back at critics over President Donald Trump’s recent comments about Chinese student visas, rejecting claims that he is planning to open America’s doors to 600,000 new Chinese nationals.

Speaking to Fox News, a White House spokesperson made it clear: “President Trump is not proposing an increase in student visas for Chinese students.” The spokesperson added that the “600,000” figure, which drew immediate outrage from some conservatives, refers to two years’ worth of visas already in the system — not a new influx of foreign students.

On Tuesday, during a round of trade meetings, President Trump announced his intention to allow up to 600,000 Chinese students to study at U.S. universities. He framed the decision as a reversal from the restrictive visa policies his administration had implemented earlier, particularly those aimed at curbing ties between Chinese students and the Chinese Communist Party.

The announcement prompted immediate backlash from conservative figures such as Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Laura Loomer, and Laura Ingraham, who accused the president of betraying the “America First” agenda. Critics warned that the move could displace American students, create national security risks, and contradict years of hard-line visa restrictions.

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But now, administration officials are insisting that critics are misrepresenting Trump’s words. “The 600K references two years’ worth of visas, which is simply a continuation of existing policy,” the White House clarified. That statement directly challenges claims that the president is dramatically expanding access for Chinese nationals.

Trump has repeatedly pointed out that international tuition revenue — particularly from Chinese students — helps keep American colleges financially afloat.  Notably, in the days following Trump’s remarks, major outlets such as AP, Newsweek, and Fox News reported the comments as policy, without any correction or denial from the White House.

On Monday, during a meeting in the Oval Office with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, reporters asked President Trump if he planned to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“President Xi would like me to come to China. It’s a very important relationship. As you know, we are taking a lot of money in from China because of the tariffs and different things,” Trump said.

“I hear so many stories about ‘We are not going to allow their students,’ but we are going to allow their students to come in. We are going to allow it. It’s very important — 600,000 students.”

At a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, with Sen. Marco Rubio seated beside him, President Trump doubled down on his remarks, saying he was “honored” to have Chinese students in the U.S. and emphasizing their importance to keeping American colleges financially stable.

“I told this to President Xi that we’re honored to have their students here,” Trump said. “Now, with that, we check and we’re careful, we see who is there.”

China’s Foreign Ministry later noted that in a June phone call, Trump had told Xi that “the U.S. loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America.”

The remarks marked a contrast with the State Department’s position from late May, when officials announced they would “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections with the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.”

The clarification given to Fox News marks the first explicit rebuttal to the narrative that Trump is ushering in hundreds of thousands of new students from China.

While the president’s comments were initially treated as a reversal of past policy, officials are adamant that nothing has changed — the administration is continuing its existing visa framework, not opening the floodgates.