President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for Harvard University to limit foreign student enrollment to 15%, escalating a series of moves by his administration aimed at pressuring the Ivy League school over its admissions and governance policies.
“I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%,” Trump said during remarks at the White House.
“We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, they can’t get in because we have foreign students there.”
According to Harvard data, nearly 6,800 students — or about 27% of the university’s student body — are international, up from 19.6% in 2006.
Including non-degree participants, fellows, and their dependents, the university says the international population exceeds 10,000 people.
“I want to make sure that the foreign students are people that can love our country,” Trump added.
“Harvard has got to behave themselves. Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect and all they’re doing is getting in deeper and deeper” the US president told reporters gathered in the Oval Office.
Donald Trump vs Harvard University
Trump’s comments come as the administration ramps up its campaign targeting what it calls left-wing bias and ineffective campus oversight.
Harvard has been a focal point of the administration’s push to combat antisemitism in higher education, particularly in the wake of student protests against the war in Gaza.
The administration has already moved to suspend Harvard’s federal funding and restrict its ability to enroll new international students.
Officials have also called for sweeping changes to the university’s governance, faculty hiring, and admissions processes, alleging the school admits international students hostile to American values.
Harvard has challenged the administration’s actions in court. A federal judge recently granted the university a temporary injunction that blocks enforcement of the foreign student enrollment freeze.
The school has also been fighting efforts by the administration to revoke its tax-exempt status and terminate federal contracts — moves that could carry significant financial consequences, even for a university with a $53 billion endowment.
Trump compares Harvard with Columbia
Trump contrasted Harvard with another Ivy League school, Columbia University, which he said is working with the administration.
“Harvard has to understand the last thing I want to do is hurt them. They’re hurting themselves. They’re fighting,” he said.
“Columbia has been very, very bad — what they’ve done, they’re very antisemitic and lots of other things — but they’re working with us on finding a solution.”
“But Harvard wants to fight, they want to show how smart they are, and they’re getting their ass kicked,” he added.
Trump admin halts student visa interviews
The comments come as the Trump administration has announced a policy shift, pausing the scheduling of new student visa interviews for international applicants seeking to study in the United States.
The decision, directed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is part of a broader initiative to expand social media screening for visa applicants, citing national security concerns.
The move has raised immediate concern among universities, international students, and immigration advocates, who warn it could disrupt the US higher education system and its significant economic contributions.
The United States has historically been a leading destination for international students, hosting over 1 million annually in recent years.
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