Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) isn’t mincing words when it comes to America’s approach to foreign students.
Appearing on The Ingraham Angle Tuesday, Kennedy emphasized that while the U.S. should welcome the best and brightest international students, they must genuinely respect and support the country, as reported [1] by The Independent Journal Review.
His comments came in response to an Obama-appointed judge’s decision [2] to temporarily block the deportation of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was accused [3] by the Trump administration of backing Hamas.
The judge’s move put a pause on Khalil’s removal while his legal challenge plays out.
Kennedy didn’t hold back, pointing out the stark reality that America hosts an overwhelming number of foreign students, yet too many of them—rather than appreciating the opportunity—use it as a platform to undermine the nation. He told host Laura Ingraham:
“I’m happy to have our foreign students. I want to pick the best and the brightest in the world and have them come. But also, they have to love America.”
Kennedy took a shot at U.S. universities, blasting them for prioritizing foreign student tuition dollars over national security and American students’ opportunities.
“Other countries do the same thing in Australia. They admit so many foreign students, Chinese students, they love them paying full tuition,” Kennedy noted.
“And that’s fine, but these kids are here with permission of the American people. And they’ve got to support our country or at least not hate it.”
His warning about Chinese students wasn’t just about money. Kennedy stressed that foreign students studying in America should be held accountable and removed if they pose a risk to the country.
“Their allegiance has to be to the country. And when they’re here, they have to behave. And the Immigration Naturalization Act is very clear. If they don’t, if we even have a reasonable belief to think that their presence is adverse to foreign policy, we can deport them.
And we should. And these universities like to love them,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy isn’t against foreign students—far from it. But he’s drawing a firm line between those who genuinely want to contribute to America and those who use their student visas as a launching pad for anti-American activism.
“I happen to believe that if foreign students want to come here and learn and maybe stay and assimilate and become Americans, I’m happy to have them,” Kennedy said.
“But I’m not happy to pay for them to come here to hate on America. And I’m not happy to have universities support that while at the same time taking American taxpayer dollars. I hate the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.”
Kennedy’s remarks come as the Department of Homeland Security has accused Khalil of ties to Hamas, saying he played a leading role in extremist activism. Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, was a prominent figure in campus protests during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Critics argue that his actions went beyond protest and crossed into outright antisemitism.
Each time I hear @SenJohnKennedy [4], my respect for him grows. Take a listen to his explanation of the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia graduate student and Hamas advocate. Well said, sir, and agree 100%. https://t.co/wuiuBvNF7h [5]
— James A Freeman (@JamesAFreeman) March 12, 2025 [6]
Columbia’s demonstrations were just one part of a broader surge in student activism across the country, with many protesting Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Trump has vowed to crack down on foreign students who engage in extremist behavior, following through by pulling $400 million in federal funding from Columbia for failing to control antisemitic incidents on campus.
As Kennedy made clear, America has a choice—bring in students who want to build up the country or let in those who hate it. And he’s got no patience for the latter.