Trump’s recent claim that Chinese students are critical to the success of HBCUs has drawn jokes and backlash from blacks on social media.
Trump went on the conservative Fox News to talk to Laura Ingraham about how he feels about Chinese students. Recently, Trump has been talking about allowing student and H-1B visas, especially for those coming from East Asian countries.
“We do have a lot of people from China,” he began. “We also have a huge system of colleges and universities, and if we cut that in half … you’d have half the colleges in the United States going out of business.”
Trump says HBCUs will “all go out of business” if fewer Chinese students are allowed to attend American universities; pic.twitter.com/QWCtipwVcH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 11, 2025
However, his particular post about HBCUs struck the wrong chord with many in the black community.
The president insisted. “You’re going to have historically black colleges and universities going out of business.”
Trump’s bold claim confused Black X users, making them wonder when Chinese students started putting HBCUs on their backs.
Since when do HBCUs rely on Chinese students??? FBA would have a wall
Wall areas, if Biden said we need immigrant students… https://t.co/4BbQQvc1xN— CJ G (@cjgproduxions) November 11, 2025
“Since when did HBCUs rely on Chinese students?” asked one commenter. “FFB would go from wall to wall if Biden said we need immigrant students…”
Brue really can’t speak decently without blackmailing the villain or the scapegoat. https://t.co/u98XAABcdr
— Uncle P. 🤝🏾 (@IamDwayneWayne) November 12, 2025
User X wrote: “Bruh can’t really speak decently without blackmailing the villain or the scapegoat.
Another, however, pointedly dismissed Trump’s notion that Chinese students are keeping HBCUs afloat.
I was intrigued, so I ran the IPEDS data for fall 2023. Approximately 3,000 students who identified as Asian attended HBCUs, or 1%. So based on the numbers and my experience as president, this scenario will not affect HBCUs. https://t.co/LCGmHNY0U1
— Walter M. Kimbrough (@HipHopPrez) November 11, 2025
“I was intrigued, so I ran the IPEDS data for Fall 2023,” wrote Walter M. Kimbrough, a three-time HBCU president. “Approximately 3,000 students who identified as Asian attended HBCUs, or 1%. So based on the numbers and my experience as president, this scenario will not affect HBCUs.”
The Black Information Network also acquired data from the Institute of Educational Sciences. Exit confirmed it International students account for only 2.5% of HBCUs’ total enrollment.
However, Trump’s evolving views on politics to immigration caused contact with his “MAGA” base. Despite this, he defended his position on the importance of allowing the Chinese to work and study in the United States.
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