President Donald Trump split with immigration hawks by defending Chinese students in the U.S. while also softening on Chinese-owned farmland — creating friction inside MAGA and unexpected overlap with moderate Democrats.

Fox News’ Sean Hannity asked Trump in a recent interview from Beijing about concerns surrounding Chinese nationals attending school in the U.S. and China-linked entities purchasing farmland, including in sensitive areas like near a North Dakota military base that raised eyebrows earlier this decade.

Republicans have long warned that Chinese student visa programs could expose U.S. research and state secrets to the Chinese Communist Party, while GOP officials like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer have pushed for tougher restrictions on Chinese ownership of American farmland.

«It’s not that I love it. You want to see farm prices drop; you want to see farmers lose a lot of money just take that out of the market. But they’ve had a lot of land for a long time. Obama did nothing about it,» Trump said.

SENATORS RICKETTS, FETTERMAN UNITE AGAINST CHINA’S QUIET INVASION OF US FARMLAND

Trump also defended allowing Chinese students to study in the U.S., calling them «good students» and arguing that banning them would unnecessarily inflame tensions with Beijing.

«I frankly think that it’s good that people come from other countries and they learn our culture and many of them want to stay here,» Trump said, while admitting that it «doesn’t sound like a very conservative position – and I’m a conservative… commonsense guy. I think MAGA is ‘common sense,’» he said.

The comments triggered backlash from the right wing of the MAGA movement, with former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene disputing, «No — that’s not commonsense.»

«Trump says it’s insulting to tell China their students can’t go to our universities, imagine being an American student and receiving a rejection letter while 500,000 Chinese students get in,» Greene said, according to the left-wing New Republic. «And no – it’s not OK for China to buy our farmland.»

Some Democrats, however, appeared heartened by Trump’s more moderate stance on a major sticking point in the immigration field.

Fox News Digital reached out to top Democrats on the moderate New Democrat Coalition’s Border Security Working Group.

Chairman Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico told Fox News Digital that while he disagrees with Trump «on a lot» regarding immigration enforcement, he will continue to support efforts to bring new blood into the American economy.

«I have long supported building America’s workforce by encouraging the best and brightest across the world to come study in the U.S. and build their careers and families here,» said Vasquez.

«Congress should expand more legal pathways for students to stay here and start businesses, grow the American economy, and help our country fill critical needs in key industries like healthcare, manufacturing, quantum AI and engineering.» 

A Vasquez spokesperson added that the lawmaker, however, agrees with conservatives on one point where Trump differed — that Chinese nationals should not be permitted to purchase U.S. farmland.

«Food security is national security,» the spokesperson said.

Speaking to Hannity, Trump added: «I could tell [Xi], I don’t want any students, it’s a very insulting thing to say to a country. They would then immediately go out and start building universities all over China.»

Trump argued that without the influx of Chinese students, middling and lower-tier universities would begin dying on the vine financially.

Lora Ries, former counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee and a 30-year policy expert now with the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital that universities have grown too dependent on foreign students because they often pay «full freight» — and made the case for scrutinizing the education system rather than keeping it propped up with foreign tuition.

TRUMP CLAIMS GOP ‘VERY OPEN’ TO KEEPING ‘DREAMERS’ IN US, TAKES SHOT AT ‘VERY DIFFICULT’ DEMS

«It is no longer a level playing field for American students to get into these universities. We also know many of these universities are producing degrees that don’t have a great return on investment: gender studies, et cetera. So why on earth do we want to keep universities that depend on those sorts of degrees afloat?» Ries said.

«We shouldn’t justify continuing to bring in high levels of foreign students to keep so many universities in business when the Big-Ed model is absolutely upside-down.»

According to Ries, Chinese and other foreign student blocs exacerbate the difficulty American students face getting into colleges — while native students are also not finding meaningful jobs after graduation.

Ries said the issue is «right up Trump’s alley,» but not in the way the president posited on «Hannity.» She said Trump could shake up «Big-Ed» by incentivizing quality degrees and disincentivizing ones that leave American graduates occupationally stranded.

FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO HATE AMERICA DON’T DESERVE VISAS — AND WE HAVE TOOLS TO STOP THEM

When it comes to the adage about jobs Americans supposedly won’t do, she pointed to the medical field, which has seen an influx of foreign students.

«You can’t say medicine is a job that Americans won’t do, so what’s going on?» she said.

She also noted that Chinese nationals cannot come to live in America without the knowledge of — and often information-sharing with — the CCP, which itself poses a risk.

«Also, Chairman Xi can say, ‘Well, America is in decline,’ as he just did in this summit.»

When asked for comment, a White House spokesperson directed Fox News Digital to the president’s remarks to Hannity.

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Trump’s comments set up a new potential divergence between presidential policy and conservative politics among some of his current and former most ardent supporters, including Greene.

It also, however, potentially opens up a rare immigration dialogue with Democrats like Vasquez and his coalition of moderates, who have been trying to advance their own fixes to the broken system.

La sombra del narcotráfico se coló con fuerza en las violentas protestas y bloqueos que se suceden desde hace dos semanas en Bolivia entre acusaciones cruzadas y denuncias de golpe.

El gobierno de Rodrigo Paz está convencido de que las movilizaciones populares que exigen la renuncia del presidente son financiadas por grupos criminales ante el retorno de la Administración para el Control de Drogas (DEA) estadounidense al país y la reciente captura del narcotraficante uruguayo Sebastián Marset.

“Bolivia no va a vivir secuestrada por políticos del Chapare que, en alianza con el narcotráfico, quieren tomar el poder a la fuerza”, denunció el vocero gubernamental, José Luis Gálvez.

En la región del Chapare, una de las principales zonas productoras de hoja de coca, se encuentra refugiado el exmandatario Evo Morales, a quien el gobierno acusa de impulsar las protestas. El expresidente tiene un pedido de captura en su contra en una causa por corrupción de menores y se encuentra prófugo.

Los bloqueos y protestas son lideradas por la Central Obrera Boliviana (COB), junto con asociaciones campesinas, indígenas, mineras y del magisterio, entre otras.

Según un reporte del sitio local Brújula Digital, hay 46 puntos de bloqueo en todo el país, 17 de los cuales en la Paz y en la vecina ciudad de El Alto. La protesta derivó en un creciente desabastecimiento de alimentos, combustible y medicinas y en un aumento generalizado de precios de los productos de primera necesidad.

El regreso de la DEA y la captura de Sebastián Marset

La DEA volvió a Bolivia después de 18 años. La agencia antidrogas de Estados Unidos había sido expulsada del país durante el gobierno de Morales. Por ahora, sus agentes tendrán una participación limitada y no estarán desplegados en las zonas más sensibles.

“En las protestas no hay una centralidad de Evo. Participa y trata de sacar ventaja. También hay movimientos desde el Chapare, con grupos cocaleros que vinieron a La Paz. Pero detrás se mueven fuerzas como el narco que está aterrorizado por la llegada de la DEA y la posibilidad de perder una plaza tan importante como Bolivia”, dijo a TN el analista Ricardo Calla, exministro de Asuntos Indígenas y Pueblos Originarios durante el primer gobierno de Morales.

Para Calla, ahora “va a ser más complicado el negocio de la cocaína”.

“Se han incrementado los procesos de incautacion de drogas en el Chapare y hay más controles del accionar de los carteles. Pero lo más fuerte y quizás el elemento desencadenador, ha sido la detencion de Marset”, afirmó.

Leé también: El canciller Quirno cruzó a Evo y negó que la Argentina le haya dado ayuda militar al gobierno de Bolivia

Sebastián Marset, líder del llamado Primer Cartel Uruguayo, fue capturado el 13 de marzo de 2026 en Santa Cruz de la Sierra y trasladado por agentes de la DEA a Estados Unidos. Era considerado uno de los criminales más buscados en la región. “Este arresto tocó la fibra del narcotráfico”, sostuvo el analista.

Para Calla, la detención de Marset, unida a la llegada de la DEA, “hizo perder la tranquilidad” a los líderes narco y puso en alerta al crimen organizado.

“Aquí operan carteles poderosos, brasileños, colombianos y bolivianos, que están pagando para hacer sicariato político. Esto viene desde las sombras. No quieren perder una plaza central en el tráfico de cocaína hacia Europa y Asia», indicó.

Según Calla, la DEA ya abrió una usina en La Paz y con dos funcionarios. “Seguramente están operando más agentes y hay presencias encubiertas”, detalló.

¿Qué dicen desde la izquierda evista?

Pero desde la izquierda evista rechazan cualquier connivencia con el crimen organizado.

Hector Arce, exdiputado del Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) y exembajador boliviano ante la OEA durante el gobierno de Luis Arce, dijo a TN que “el gobierno ha buscado estigmatizar a los movimientos sociales”.

“Es absolutamente falso” que el narcotráfico está detrás de las protestas, aseguró.

Para el exlegislador masista, “buscan desgastar estas movilizaciones indicando que es el movimiento evista el que convoca. Eso es falso. También dijeron que es el narco. También es falso».

“Conozco a mi gente. Van con su comidita, con su papita, con su charqui (carne deshidratada típica de las regiones andinas). No hay nadie que financie con plata estas protestas y mucho menos el narco. Esta es solo una forma de desgastar y estigmatizar las movilizaciones”, señaló.

Además, afirmó: “Las protestas son expresiones de bronca, de impotencia y de frustración de diferentes sectores de la sociedad boliviana para manifestar su descontento por las promesas no cumplidas del gobierno” después de solo seis meses de gestión.

“Rodrigo Paz gobierna a espaldas del pueblo. Ya no piden por reivindicaciones. Ahora exigen su renuncia. Los campesinos afirman: ´nosotros te pusimos y nosotros te vamos a sacar´“, concluyó.

Voters are increasingly pessimistic about the economy and President Trump’s handling of key issues, while a majority opposes continued U.S. military involvement in Iran even as most believe the U.S. is winning the war. That’s according to a new Fox News national survey.

Affordability continues to dominate the political landscape.

Fifty-eight percent flag the cost of living as their top economic worry, up from 50% in February. This eclipses other issues, such as government spending (16%), jobs (8%) and tariffs (8%).

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS SEE AI AS A RISK TO PRIVACY AND PAYCHECKS

More than three-quarters also say the economy is in bad shape (77%), worse than last month (73%) and a year ago (71%). Only 23% rate it positively, the lowest in more than a year. 

The pessimism is personal too. A slim majority of voters (51%) say their family’s finances are worse now than two years ago. Before the 2022 midterm elections, 44% said the same. 

FOX NEWS POLL: 56% DOUBT WHITE HOUSE’S COMPETENCE AT MANAGING GOVERNMENT

All that helps explain the deterioration in Trump’s ratings on the economy.  A year ago, 56% of voters disapproved and last month it was 66%; now, it’s 71%.  The increase since April comes from a 7-point rise in disapproval among Republicans. 

Notably, approval of Trump on the economy among non-MAGA Republicans (36%) is more in line with independents (18%) than with MAGA Republicans (74%).  The president’s overall approval on handling the economy stands at just 29%, down from 34% in April. 

Trump gets his lowest ratings on inflation, where only 24% approve — down from 35% in January. Inflation marks a rare issue where a slim majority of Republicans (51%) disapprove of Trump. It reaches 85% among independents and 96% among Democrats.

His job numbers are also net negative on foreign policy (38-62%). Until this month, border security was the one issue where Trump received a positive rating. Now voters are split (49-51%) on his border security performance, pushing his ratings underwater for the first time this term. That shift comes even as 45% of voters say border security is better today than two years ago, while 29% say it’s worse.

Approval of Trump’s overall job performance is 39%, down 3 points since last month and 10 points since his second term started — and only 1 point above his lowest in October 2017.  A record 61% disapprove of the job he’s doing, including 48% who strongly disapprove. 

Since April, approval has declined among some of his key constituencies, such as rural Whites (-6 points), White men without a degree (-5), and Republicans (-3). 

Trump approval is at all-time lows among Republicans (80%), non-MAGA Republicans (54%), Whites (43%) and rural voters (43%).

«Despite consistently strong GOP support, the president’s numbers are leaking a bit,» says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. «Make no mistake; it’s all about affordability. Independents jumped ship in 2025, and now non-MAGA Republicans and other core constituencies are wavering.»

Plus, in the long run, more voters think Trump’s policies will hurt the country (57%) than help it (34%). The share saying «hurt» is up 6 points since last April. Fully 88% of MAGA Republicans say his policies will help, while only 43% of non-MAGA Republicans agree.

Meanwhile, gas prices are squeezing voter budgets: 86% call rising prices a problem, including 51% who label them a «major» problem. Concern is nearly universal for the broader economy, where 96% see gas prices as a problem and 75% call it «major.»

When assigning blame for gas prices, voters aimed heavily at domestic factors, with about 8 in 10 pointing to Trump’s policies, domestic oil companies, and government regulations. However, they overwhelmingly view the Iran war as the primary driver, with 91% saying it is responsible.

Iran

Two-thirds think the U.S. is winning the war in Iran, yet opposition to U.S. military action increased to 60%, up from 55% last month. 

Half think the war will last a year (18%) or more (33%), unchanged since March, while 6 in 10 favor a limited timeframe for U.S. involvement in Iran, including 3 in 10 war supporters and 4 in 10 Republicans. 

Almost all Republicans (89%) and two-thirds of independents believe the U.S. is winning the war, while more than half of Democrats say Iran is winning (56%). Generationally, voters under age 30 are the most likely to believe the U.S. is winning (79%), yet they are also some of the most opposed to the war (67%).

Among voters who have served in the military, 55% support the U.S. action against Iran and 72% believe the U.S. is winning the war.

Last summer, voter concern about Iran getting a nuclear bomb was at a record high 78%.  Today, it’s at a record low 56%, down from 66% in March.  Concern since March is down among Democrats (-13 points), independents (-11), and Republicans (-6).

Poll-pourri

While 45% approve of Trump’s handling of the U.S.-China summit, a 54% majority disapproves.

That matches views of the negotiation’s outcome: 52% believe Chinese President Xi Jinping got more of what he wanted compared to 46% for Trump.  More than a quarter of Republicans (27%) join majorities of Democrats (75%) and independents (56%) in thinking Xi won the summit, as do nearly a quarter of those who otherwise approve of Trump’s handling of the trip (24%). 

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Conducted May 15-18, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,002 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (109) and cellphones (635) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (258). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.