@monkee @maggiejk @Sbectol @lucky @jdmcg also completely misdirected because grad research students generally don't pay out of pocket at all – one of the biggest attractions of strong US universities is that they provide enough funding to cover your fees, living and research costs. I received a standard funding package (it involved four semesters of leading tutorial groups, but was otherwise unencumbered), and several project grants, and we saved enough to put down a house deposit after graduating. I went to the US, not the UK, because I could afford it. And to Australia before that, again because the funding offered meant that I could afford it.
The exceptions are a small number of people bringing huge scholarships like a Fulbright (which comes from the US anyway) or from their home government. Grad students paying their own way do exist but they're quite uncommon outside business and law schools, generally not research students. The oval office may have no idea about this, not being famed for its high-flying intellects.