U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded the names and home countries of every international student at Harvard University, tapping into a debate over campus diversity and federal funding.
The request, posted on Truth Social, comes days after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the administration’s plan to revoke Harvard’s visa certification. That move would have barred the school from enrolling new international students and forced current internationals to transfer or lose legal status.
“We want to know who those foreign students are, a reasonable request since we give Harvard BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,” Trump wrote, pointing to the university’s deep ties with overseas learners.
Harvard’s fall 2023 data shows more than 27% of its students hail from beyond U.S. borders. With nearly 6,800 international students and scholars representing over 140 countries and regions, the campus community is a vibrant global hub—especially at the graduate level.
International enrollment not only enriches academic life but also drives billions in tuition and living expenses to local economies. As Harvard battles the administration in court, the spotlight on global students has intensified, raising questions about privacy, campus autonomy, and the role of foreign tuition in U.S. higher education.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads tracking trends in education and policy, this standoff underscores how international mobility and national politics are more intertwined than ever.
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Trump demands 'names and countries' of Harvard's foreign students
cgtn.com
