Trump suggests 15% cap on international students at Harvard

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a drastic reduction in the number of international students at Harvard University, proposing a cap of just 15 percent, less than half of the current figure.

Our Kim Jung-sil has details.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump said Harvard's international student enrollment is too high and should be reduced.

"About 31% of their students are foreign-based. Almost 31%. I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%. We have people who want to go to Harvard. They can't get in because we have foreign students there."

It's part of the growing pressure on the school from the Trump administration.

Last month, it froze 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal funding to the school. It then suspended the school's authority to issue I-20 visas, halting new international admissions.

"We want to know where those students come from. Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come? Many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left lunatics in this country."

Following President Trump's remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new crackdown, saying the U.S. will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.

New applications from China and Hong Kong will also face tougher scrutiny.

Trump says he wants Harvard to be "great again," but not everyone on campus agrees.

"The attack on Harvard and its international students is part of a deeper effort to disband and dismantle the academic world."

"What makes Harvard Harvard is ability to bring in the best and the brightest from all around the world and that is what is under threat right now."

In South Korea, students say new visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy are currently unavailable.

This comes as the U.S. moves to expand social media screening for international applicants.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.