President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for H-1B visas, aligning himself with tech billionaire Elon Musk in an ongoing debate within his own political base. Speaking to The Post on Saturday, Mr. Trump said he has long championed the visa program, which allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers.
“I have always liked visas. I have always been in favor of visas. That’s why we have them,” Mr. Trump said in a telephone interview. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I believe in the H-1B. I have used it several times. It’s a great program,” he added.
The comments mark a notable shift for Mr. Trump, who during his first administration restricted access to visas for foreign workers and criticized the programs as harming American workers.
Mr. Trump’s remarks come amid intense debate on the issue, spurred by Mr. Musk and other technology leaders calling for the expansion of H-1B visas. Supporters argue the program is vital to ensuring U.S. companies can recruit top talent, particularly in areas where domestic expertise may be lacking.
“America needs to attract the top 0.1% of engineering talent to remain competitive,” Mr. Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He stressed that this level of expertise is essential to “allow America to continue to win.”
Divisions within the MAGA base
While tech industry executives, including Mr. Musk, defend the program, MAGA hardliners within Mr. Trump’s base have demanded tougher immigration restrictions. They believe that priority should be given to promoting American workers.
Mr. Musk’s passionate defense of the H-1B visa program turned combative last week when he faced criticism on X. In response to Steven Mackey, who mocked his position by referring to one of Mr. Musk’s own phrases: “Stop trying to optimize something that shouldn’t exist” – the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX replied: “The reason I’m in America with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B.
Mr. Musk’s position has garnered support from Vivek Ramaswamy, who is expected to lead the Department of Government Effectiveness under Mr. Trump’s administration. Mr. Ramaswamy also criticized American culture, writing on X: “American culture has worshiped mediocrity rather than excellence. »
Musk’s ‘war’ of words
The debate intensified when Mr Musk vowed to go to “war” on the issue, responding bluntly to one critic, telling them to “go fuck yourself”. The robust defense underscores the stakes, with Mr. Musk saying the program is essential to maintaining America’s technological and economic advantage.
Supporters of Mr. Musk and the H-1B visa program see it as a crucial way to fill gaps in the U.S. labor market, particularly in skilled positions. However, critics within Mr. Trump’s inner circle are urging him to prioritize his past promises to boost job opportunities for American citizens.
