Trump Appoints Ex-X Executive Sriram Krishnan as Senior AI Advisor Amid H-1B Visa Debate

Dec 25, 2024, 04:25 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Indian American entrepreneur and venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan, who previously collaborated with Elon Musk on restructuring X (formerly Twitter) until 2019, is known for advocating the removal of country caps on U.S. green cards and promoting skill-based immigration. His appointment has ignited a debate over H-1B visas among Trump's supporters, with far-right activists like Laura Loomer criticizing his views and launching racist attacks against him. Prominent figures in the tech industry, including Elon Musk, David Sacks, and Congressman Ro Khanna, have defended Krishnan, emphasizing the importance of skilled immigrants in driving American innovation and economic growth. The controversy highlights a growing rift between the 'Tech Right' and the 'New Right' over the role of high-skilled immigration in the United States.