Trump Calls for 15% Foreign Student Cap at Harvard to Prioritize Domestic Applicants

U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his scrutiny of Harvard University on Wednesday, calling for a significant reduction in the number of foreign students allowed at the prestigious institution. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that Harvard should implement a cap limiting foreign enrollment to about 15 percent—less than half of the current proportion.

“Harvard has to show us their lists,” Trump declared, referencing university data that indicates nearly 31 percent of its students come from outside the United States. “We want to know where those students come [from]. Are they troublemakers?” The president further alleged that many foreign students were “troublemakers caused by the radical left lunatics in this country,” without providing concrete evidence to support these claims.

Emphasizing the need for stricter controls, Trump argued, “I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 percent, not 31 percent. We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools; they can’t get in because we have foreign students there.” He also warned that U.S. universities not complying with his administration's demands could face significant funding cuts.

The president’s administration has put forth several key demands, including the elimination of diversity initiatives that benefit minority groups and a crackdown on antisemitism across college campuses. With billions of dollars in federal funding under threat, Harvard is facing an unprecedented crisis. Its tax-exempt status is also reportedly in jeopardy, and the university is currently the subject of multiple federal investigations.

Tensions escalated further when, on May 22, the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s eligibility for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, cutting off a critical pipeline for international scholars and students. In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the federal government. A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked the government’s move, and a crucial court hearing to determine whether the block will be extended is scheduled for May 29.

According to statistics released by Harvard, international students accounted for more than 27 percent of the student population in fall 2023. The university currently enrolls approximately 6,800 international students and scholars from over 140 countries and regions, with the majority pursuing graduate or postdoctoral study.

As legal proceedings continue and the standoff intensifies, U.S. higher education institutions—and the thousands of international students who contribute to them—are left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the outcome of the judicial process and the next moves from both sides.