Harvard University should cap foreign student enrollment to about 15%: Trump

​​​​​​​WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Harvard University should cap its foreign student enrollment to about 15%.

"I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%.

"We have people want to go to Harvard and other schools they can't get in because we have foreign students there," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump's remarks came amid his administration’s move to revoke Harvard's international student enrollment ability, though a federal judge temporarily blocked that directive after the school filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the US Constitution’s First Amendment.

"I want to make sure that the foreign students are people that can love our country. We don't want to see shopping centers exploding. We don't want to see the kind of riots that you had," said Trump.

He said Harvard has been a "disaster."

"Harvard has to show us their lists. They have foreign students. About 31% of their students are foreign-based. Almost 31%.

"We want to know where those students come. Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come?" Trump said.

When asked how the confrontation with Harvard would end, Trump said he does not know.

"Harvard has got to behave themselves. Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper," he added.

The Trump administration has threatened to freeze federal funding for many universities, including Harvard, citing campus protests in support of Palestine and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The administration has pulled $3 billion in funding and threatened to take away Harvard's tax-exempt status.