US Department of state Spokesperson, Tammy Bruce has defended Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision to “aggressively” revoke visas from Chinese students, particularly those linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
At a news briefing, Bruce stressed that the State Department is determined to protect American’s right to free speech and to counter the malign influence and actions of the Chinese Communist Party.
“The bottom line: We are using and will continue to use every tool in our tool chest to make sure that we know who it is who wants to come into this country and if they should be allowed to come in.”
Tammy Bruce
She added that the policy would apply to Hong Kong passport holders, as well as those from mainland China.
Bruce further accused China of seeking to access US education for its own advancement.
“The United States, I further can say here, will not tolerate the CCP’s exploitation of US universities or theft of US research, intellectual property or technologies to grow its military power, conduct intelligence collection or repress voices of opposition.”
Tammy Bruce
She noted that every visa adjudication is a “national security decision.”
Also, Bruce brushed aside concerns that limits on international student visas might dampen interest in attending US universities. “People come here because this is where you start new lives, where you have every opportunity in the world,” she said.
She echoed Trump administration concerns that US education had swung too far towards left-leaning ideologies.
Parents, she said, want their kids to have skills and an education that can improve their future, that can get them a job, that can help facilitate the dreams that they’ve had as “opposed to political indoctrination or the idea of just activism or a certain political framework.”
“It’s a certainly an important dynamic for believing and understanding that your child’s going to be safe and that you’re going get something that you’ve paid for, more than a social activist who lives in your basement.”
Tammy Bruce
White House Blasts Court’s Rule Against Tariff Programme
Separately, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a White House news conference, denounced a federal court’s decision to strike down much of Trump’s tariff policy.
“Last night, the Trump administration faced another example of judicial overreach. Using his full and proper legal authority, President Trump imposed universal tariffs and reciprocal tariffs on Liberation Day to address the extraordinary threat to our national security posed by large and persistent trade deficits.”
Karoline Leavitt
She added that the tariffs were necessary to boost manufacturing in the US and reduce reliance on foreign countries. “Three judges of the US Court of International Trade disagreed and brazenly abused their judicial power to usurp the authority of President Trump,” she added.
Also, Leavitt told reporters that Republicans in Congress must pass a massive budget bill that contains key Trump priorities.
Dubbed by Trump as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the legislation would increase spending on immigration enforcement and cement tax cuts he first implemented in 2017.
However, critics argue its tax savings would benefit the wealthy most of all, and that those tax breaks would have to be offset by cuts to social programmes and a $4 trillion increase to the federal debt.
Still, Leavitt called on Republicans to unify behind the bill.
“With Congress returning next week, it’s critical that Senate Republicans maintain the momentum and quickly pass the One Big Beautiful Bill. The One Big Beautiful Bill will truly make America safe and prosperous. The One Big Beautiful Bill in cludes the largest border security investment ever.”
Karoline Leavitt
READ ALSO: GNPC Advances Tech-Driven Strategy for Ghana’s Energy Sector
