President-elect Donald Trump has publicly sided with tech billionaire Elon Musk in support of the H-1B visa program, igniting a fresh debate over immigration policies in the United States. The endorsement came after Musk vowed to “go to war” to defend the program that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
On Saturday, Trump told The New York Post, “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.” This marks a notable shift from his previous stance during his first presidency, where he moved to limit the use of these visas.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, had previously held an H-1B visa himself. Tesla reportedly obtained 724 H-1B visas this year alone. The program typically grants visas for three-year periods, allowing holders to extend them or apply for permanent residency.
The controversy was sparked earlier this week when far-right activists criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-American venture capitalist, as an adviser on artificial intelligence. Critics argued that Krishnan’s appointment could influence immigration policies in favor of foreign workers.
Musk responded to these criticisms by directly addressing Trump’s supporters and immigration hard-liners on social media, defending the H-1B program and emphasizing the importance of skilled immigrants in the tech industry.
Meanwhile, Steve Bannon, a longtime confidante of Trump, criticized “big tech oligarchs” for their support of the H-1B program, framing immigration as a threat to Western civilization. This highlights the growing divide within conservative circles over legal immigration and the role of foreign talent in the U.S. economy.
Trump’s endorsement of the H-1B program stands in contrast to his earlier promises to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally, impose tariffs to protect American jobs, and significantly restrict immigration. The latest developments suggest a potential shift in policy priorities, especially concerning skilled foreign workers in the tech sector.
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Trump sides with Elon Musk in H-1B visa program, triggering debate
cgtn.com
