Trump: Harvard should set a 15% cap on foreign students

Trump: Harvard should set a 15% cap on foreign students

President Donald Trump has suggested that Harvard University should cap its foreign student enrollment at around 15%, down from the current 27.2%. This proposal comes amidst ongoing disputes between the Trump administration and the prestigious Ivy League institution.

In a press conference held on Wednesday, Trump argued that the current high number of foreign students at Harvard is preventing American students from gaining admission to the university. He stated, "We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, but they can't get in because we have foreign students there" [1].

Trump's administration has taken several actions against Harvard, including freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding and temporarily halting the university's ability to enroll international students. These actions are part of the administration's broader effort to pressure Harvard into compliance with demands, including curtailing antisemitic incidents and providing lists of foreign students for federal review [1].

The president has also floated the idea of rerouting federal funds away from Harvard and towards trade schools. He stated, "They’re taking $5 billion and I’d rather see that money go to trade schools" [1].

Harvard has resisted the administration's demands, arguing that they are an attempt to erode the university's independence and academic freedom. The university has challenged the administration's actions in court, and a federal judge temporarily blocked the order to revoke Harvard's international student enrollment ability [2].

Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, criticized Trump's actions against foreign enrollment at US universities, stating, "It’s so irrational because higher education is one of the top US exports to the world and the international students who come to this country enrich American universities immensely and take their knowledge back to all of their countries around the globe for the improvement of their countries and their populations" [2].

Trump's proposal and the ongoing dispute with Harvard have significant implications for the university's financial health and its ability to attract and retain top talent from around the world. The outcome of these disputes could set a precedent for other universities and influence future policies on international student enrollment.

References:
[1] https://nypost.com/2025/05/28/us-news/trump-suggests-15-cap-on-foreign-students-at-harvard-says-he-wants-ivy-to-be-great-again/
[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/28/trump-says-harvard-should-cap-foreign-enrollment-provide-student-list