U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security visa issuance statistics

Trump Backs H-1B Visas, Says 'We Need Smart People', Aligns With Musk Amid GOP Divide

Jan 1, 2025, 02:34 AM

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for the H-1B visa program, aligning himself with tech leaders like Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in favor of allowing highly skilled foreign workers into the United States. Speaking at a New Year's Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump dismissed suggestions that he had changed his stance on the program, stating, "I didn't change my mind. I've always felt we have to have the most competent people in our country. We need smart people coming into our country. We need a lot of people coming in." This marks a departure from his previous campaign pledge in 2016 to end the H-1B visa program. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently called the H-1B visa system "broken" and in need of "major reform," despite earlier vowing to "go to war" to defend it. Reports have emerged from Electrek and the U.S. Department of Labor that Tesla has replaced thousands of laid-off U.S. workers with foreign employees on H-1B visas, further fueling the debate. The issue has caused a divide within the Republican Party and among Trump's supporters, with pro-business advocates like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy supporting the program for attracting top talent, while nationalist factions argue it takes jobs away from Americans. A recent poll showed that 60% of voters believe the U.S. doesn't need more H-1B visa workers. The Indian government is monitoring the situation closely, as the H-1B program largely benefits Indian workers. The controversy highlights the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and labor in the United States.