Trump Suggests Implementing 15% Cap on Foreign Students at Harvard to Prioritize Domestic Applicants

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that there should be a cap of approximately 15 percent on foreign students at Harvard University, intensifying his ongoing campaign pushing the institution to disclose its list of international students. Addressing reporters at the White House, Trump described the current proportion of foreign students—estimated at around 31 percent—as excessive and questioned the backgrounds of many, expressing concerns about potential security risks and campus activism.

"Harvard has to show us their lists," Trump asserted, insisting on greater transparency regarding where these students originate. He further claimed, without presenting evidence, that a significant portion of foreign students were "troublemakers" allegedly influenced by "radical left lunatics" within the United States. "I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 percent, not 31 percent," Trump added, arguing that qualified American applicants are being denied opportunities because of the presence of international students.

Following his remarks, Trump broadened his warnings to encompass many top U.S. universities, threatening funding cuts for institutions that fail to alter their admissions and campus policies. Key demands from the administration include the eradication of antisemitism and an end to diversity initiatives that support minority groups—policies which have come under increasing federal scrutiny. The stakes are high for Harvard, with billions of dollars in federal funding frozen, its tax-exempt status under threat, and multiple government investigations underway. The university now faces one of the most severe crises in its history.

The pressure escalated when, on May 22, the Department of Homeland Security announced the revocation of Harvard's eligibility for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. This move restricts Harvard’s ability to enroll new international students and is widely seen as part of the administration's broader effort to force compliance with its demands.

Legal battles have rapidly ensued. Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against the federal government, leading a federal judge in Massachusetts to grant a temporary block on the ban. A crucial court hearing, scheduled for May 29, will determine whether this injunction will be extended. This is not the first legal confrontation between Harvard and the administration; the university previously initiated litigation over federal funding cuts.

Data released by Harvard indicate that, as of fall 2023, international students accounted for just over 27 percent of its total student body. The university currently hosts nearly 6,800 international students and scholars drawn from more than 140 countries and regions, with the majority enrolled in graduate-level programs.

With both sides entrenched and the future of international students at elite U.S. universities uncertain, the coming weeks will prove pivotal in shaping the landscape of higher education and immigration policy across the country.