During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to block Chinese citizens and companies from purchasing farmland in the United States as part of his "America First" agenda; shortly after winning a second term, his administration swiftly moved to restrict Chinese student visas. However, Trump has now reversed positions on both issues. This shift may alienate many of his supporters—particularly members of the MAGA movement—who view China as an existential threat to America. Most polls show that the vast majority of Americans who identify as MAGA conservatives see China as a rival and support decoupling measures. For years, many Republicans have treated China's ownership of U.S. land, especially agricultural land, as both a national security concern and a rallying cry at political rallies. Multiple states, including Texas and Florida, have passed laws restricting Chinese citizens from buying land, and members of Congress have introduced legislation aimed at limiting Chinese purchases of farmland and real estate in the United States. In reality, Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland is extremely small—just 0.02% of total U.S. farmland and less than 1% of foreign-owned farmland—far below holdings by Canada (34%), the Netherlands (10%), and Germany, Italy, and the UK (6%). U.S. researchers also acknowledge that concerns about China are often exaggerated. Meanwhile, international students—especially those from China—contribute billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy and serve as vital financial lifelines for many American universities. For years, business leaders and higher education advocates have argued that broad visa restrictions harm U.S. competitiveness more than they protect national interests.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865492828687689/
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