‘An extinction level event’: Trump proves he’s the world’s worst businessman by driving away $44 billion in revenue

At this point, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the only deal Donald Trump has mastered is the one where he swaps billions of dollars of potential revenue for a giant, flaming dumpster fire of his own making. 

Trump administration has thrown a wrench into America’s higher education system—a sector that generated a staggering $43.8 billion last year. By halting all student visa applications and targeting elite universities like Harvard, Donald Trump has proven once again that his business acumen might not be as sharp as he claims.

The administration’s decision to freeze all new student visa applications came under the guise of “enhanced social media vetting” for foreign students. According to a leaked State Department cable, embassies have been instructed to stop scheduling appointments for student visa applicants until further notice. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the move as a necessary step to strengthen national security, but critics argue it’s a shortsighted policy that could devastate the higher education sector and America’s global standing.

The 2023-2024 academic year saw a record-breaking 1.1 million international students enrolled in U.S. institutions, contributing billions of dollars to the economy through tuition, housing, and living expenses. These students not only help sustain universities financially but also bring diversity and innovation to campuses across the country.

Trump administration has effectively cut off this vital revenue stream. Universities that rely heavily on international students for funding are now scrambling to assess the potential fallout, while foreign students are left stranded in limbo—anxiously wondering if they’ll be able to continue their education in the United States.

Trump has taken direct aim at Harvard University, a frequent target of his ire. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently revoked Harvard’s ability to host and enroll international students, citing the university’s refusal to provide detailed behavioral records of its foreign-born students. This decision impacts nearly 7,000 international students—roughly 31% of Harvard’s student body—who now face the prospect of deportation or forced transfers to other institutions. Harvard has fought back, filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration that argues the policy is an unconstitutional overreach, violating the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” the school said in its lawsuit.

Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, temporarily paused the administration’s move to revoke Harvard’s student visa program, but the legal battle is far from over. Trump has retaliated by threatening to cut the federal government’s remaining contracts with Harvard, worth an estimated $100 million.

International students are future scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. They’re the people who drive innovation and build bridges between countries. By driving them away, Trump is not just hurting the economy—he’s undermining America’s global influence and soft power. At a time when the U.S. economy could desperately use a boost, alienating a $44 billion industry seems like the opposite of good business sense.