Steve Cortes: U.S. Colleges Training China's Elites at America's Expense
RealClearPolitics
by Steve Cortes, RCP on SiriusXMFebruary 17, 2026
Steve Cortes joined the RCP Podcast on Friday to discuss his new report on record numbers of foreign nationals -- especially from China -- displacing students at American universities.
"We don't even know exactly, but at least 300,000 Chinese nationals are studying at universities in the United States," Cortes said. "First, they're taking opportunities from American young people at these really selective schools. There are a finite number of spots."
"But secondly, regarding China specifically, I think it's a national security risk," he said. "People who have this opportunity are generally from families with extremely close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. They're the elites in China with the ability, money, and initiative to send their children to these elite schools."
"Most of these selective schools are at least 25% international. Some, like Columbia, are closer to half," he said. "What I think is appalling as a taxpayer is that we Americans fund all of these schools, including the private ones. As a matter of fact, the private ones get more taxpayer money generally than the public universities do."
"I think it's outrageous that in the middle of America in Champagne, Illinois, there are 6,000 Chinese nationals who are going to absorb some of the best training in in the country, some of the best tech knowledge in America, and then go back to Beijing and make our adversary stronger and more prosperous," he said.
Verticals
politicsnews
Originally published on RealClearPolitics on 2/17/2026