Trump defends Chinese student visas and 50-year mortgage plan, blames Democrats for shutdown in FOX interview

In a wide-ranging Nov. 10 appearance on FOX News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” President Donald Trump weighed in on voter concerns about the economy, housing costs, and foreign student visas, while also blaming Democrats for prolonging the government shutdown.

Here are five of the biggest moments: 

1. Defends tariffs and foreign student visas

Defending his tariff strategy, Trump described how he used tariffs to secure the Oct. 30 deal aimed at easing trade tensions with China. He said he pressured Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this year during a standoff over rare-earth magnets — key minerals used in electronics, defense systems, and electric vehicles — by threatening to impose a 155% tariff unless Beijing lifted its export restrictions. 

>> Trump, Xi reach deal to ease trade tensions after high-stakes meeting <<

“We’re not dependent on China,” Trump told host Laura Ingraham. “We’re dependent on having a smart president.” 

In one of the interview’s more surprising exchanges, Trump defended his plan to admit 600,000 Chinese students into the U.S., even as Ingraham noted that “a lot of MAGA folks” oppose allowing “hundreds of thousands of foreign students” into the U.S. 

“It’s not that I want them, but I view it as a business,” Trump said, adding, “But one thing: you don’t want to cut half of the people, half of the students from all over the world that are coming into our country, destroy our entire university and college system. I don’t want to do that.”

He said that the U.S. takes in “trillions of dollars from students,” noting that foreign students “pay more than double” to attend school in America. 

Trump’s remarks mark a sharp reversal from earlier this year, when the administration vowed to “aggressively revoke” Chinese student visas over espionage concerns, FOX News reported. In August, Trump instead announced a plan to allow 600,000 Chinese student visas over the next two years. 

The August announcement was criticized by Republicans who cited national security concerns and argued that many American students already struggle to find spots in U.S. universities. 

According to the Institute of International Education, more than 277,000 students from China studied in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 school year, making them the second-largest group of international students after India. The total number of international students topped 1.1 million that year.

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn criticized the plan in a Nov. 10 X post, arguing that it would allow “600K Chinese spies to steal even more intellectual property” and that denying them visas “wouldn’t make a dent in U.S. colleges and universities.”

“We simply don’t need to help the Chinese anymore with their plans to be the sole superpower of this country,” Flynn added. “Let’s not give the Chinese anymore leverage than they already have. They’ve been ripping us off for years. Because of that they have significant advantages over us now — and they have zero desire nor intent to make America great again.”

Speaking with Ingraham, Trump defended his stance: “Don’t forget, MAGA was my idea. MAGA was nobody else’s idea. I know what MAGA wants better than anybody else, and MAGA wants to see our country thrive.”

2. Downplays economic anxiety, touts “greatest economy we’ve ever had” and 50-year mortgage plan

Pressed by Ingraham on stubbornly high costs for goods, Trump dismissed media coverage of inflation as a “con job by Democrats” who “feed it to anchors of ABC, CBS, and NBC, and a lot of others, CNN.” 

He insisted prices are falling: “Costs are way down. Gasoline is gonna be hitting $2 pretty soon or around $2. Gasoline is at $2.70 now, and it was at $4.50 under Biden.”

Trump also defended his administration’s proposed 50-year mortgage plan, brushing off criticism that it would benefit banks more than buyers.

“It’s not even a big deal,” he said, later adding, “All it means is you pay less per month. You pay it over a longer period of time. It’s not like a big factor. It might help a little bit.”

The following day, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett appeared on CNBC and touted 50-year mortgages as a “really good” idea.

Trump first floated the plan Nov. 8 on Truth Social, posting a graphic of himself next to one of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose administration created the 30-year mortgage standard during the Great Depression. 

Hours later, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte confirmed on X that his agency was “indeed working on The 50 year Mortgage – a complete game-changer.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median age of first-time home buyers climbed to a record 40 years old in 2025. The median sale price of a home is $410,800 — up more than 25% since 2019 — while the average 30-year mortgage rate has roughly doubled since late 2021. 

Trump blamed former President Joe Biden and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for driving up interest rates, then dismissed polling that shows voters remain anxious about the economy.

“I think polls are fake. We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We will have over $20 trillion come into our economy. And it’s largely because of my election, but it’s also largely because of tariffs.”

3. Shutdown fight centered on illegal immigration, Trump says 

Trump framed the shutdown as a standoff over Democrats’ priorities on illegal immigration, claiming they sought $1.5 trillion in healthcare funding for illegal immigrants, including thousands of violent criminals.

“What they really wanted was one and a half trillion dollars for people that came in illegally,” he said, alleging that more than 11,000 of those immigrants were convicted murderers.

“We don’t want 11,000 murderers in our country,” Trump said.

The President argued that Democrats were not just negotiating tactics but were “hold[ing] the country hostage” because they “didn’t get what they wanted in the great Big Beautiful Bill,” which Trump signed July 4. 

Trump also took aim at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., saying, “I think he made a mistake in going too far. He thought he could break the Republicans, and the Republicans broke him.”

“I’ve known him since he was a person who loved Israel, and now he’s a Palestinian,” Trump also said of Schumer. “He’s become a Palestinian.”

>> Senate passes deal to end record-long government shutdown <<

As CatholicVote reported, eight senators broke ranks with the Democratic caucus Nov. 10, voting to approve a funding package to reopen the government and fund it through January 2026. 

Trump also criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying he has “gone radical left,” after “The Ingraham Angle” played a clip of Newsom blasting Democrats who supported the bill.

“He’s a horrible governor,” Trump said. “If he ran the country like that, we would have an absolutely gonzo country.” 

When Ingraham asked how Republicans can prevent another shutdown when funding expires Jan. 30, Trump said they’re “trying to put in a bill” to ensure “that you can never do that again.” 

4. Trump outlines “Trumpcare” as his answer to Obamacare

During the interview, Trump renewed his criticism of Obamacare and laid out what he says should replace it.

“I said, it’s gonna be a disaster. And I was exactly right. The premiums have gone up like rocket ships,” he said of Obamacare, and added, “It’s horrible health insurance at a very high price.”

He said his idea would send money directly to individuals rather than insurance companies, arguing this would make plans “better” and “cost less.” 

“Instead of going to the insurance companies,” he said, “I want the money to go into an account for people where the people buy their own health insurance.”

He added, “Call it Trumpcare, call it whatever you want to call it, but anything but Obamacare. Obamacare is a disaster, just like he was as a president.” 

5. Calls for welfare reforms

During the sitdown, Trump also criticized the growth of federal welfare programs since his first term, saying the programs have “doubled, tripled, and quadrupled since I left office.” 

He singled out the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — which has drawn national attention amid major benefit reductions during the shutdown — arguing it should serve only those truly in need but has become too easy to access.

“People that need it have to get it. I’m all for it,” he said. “But people that are able-bodied can do a job. They leave their job because they figure they can pick this up. It’s easier. That’s not the purpose of it.”