U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Weighs in on H-1B Visa Debate, Expresses Support for Program
President-elect Donald Trump has weighed in on the ongoing debate among MAGA allies over H-1B worker visas, telling the New York Post that he supports the program. Trump stated that he has “always liked the visas” and has used them on his properties, according to the outlet. The H-1B visa program allows employers to temporarily hire non-U.S. citizens for highly skilled jobs.
This comes as MAGA world has been embroiled in a debate over the program, with some defending the visas and others arguing that they benefit foreign workers at the expense of American jobs. Trump allies, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have also weighed in, with Musk arguing that the program is necessary to attract talented foreign workers.
Musk, who was born in South Africa and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, credited the H-1B program with allowing him to build companies like SpaceX and Tesla. He also targeted critics of the program, accusing them of being “hateful, unrepentant racists.”
Other Republicans, including Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon, have come out against the program, with Loomer calling it “lazy” and encouraging the tech industry to invest in American workers. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley also weighed in, stating that the program is “lazy” and advocating for investing in American workers first.
The debate over the H-1B visa program is ongoing, with some arguing that it is necessary to attract skilled foreign workers and others arguing that it undermines American jobs. The program has been a contentious issue in recent years, with the Trump administration implementing rules aimed at reducing the number of visas issued, although those rules were ultimately struck down in court.
