In a surprising turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has publicly aligned himself with tech mogul Elon Musk in support of the H-1B visa program, stirring significant discussion on immigration policies in the United States.
On Saturday, Trump expressed his endorsement of the program for foreign tech workers, stating, “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,” as quoted by The New York Post. This marks a notable shift from his previous stance during his first presidency, during which he aimed to limit the use of H-1B visas.
The announcement followed a series of social media posts by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who vowed to “go to war” to defend the visa program. Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from South Africa, previously held an H-1B visa himself. This year, Tesla obtained 724 of these visas, highlighting the program’s importance to the tech industry.
The debate was ignited 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 influence could affect the administration’s immigration policies.
Steve Bannon, a longtime confidante of Trump, intensified the discussion by branding “big tech oligarchs” as supporters of the H-1B program and portraying immigration as a threat to Western civilization. In response, Musk and other tech leaders emphasized the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, advocating for the value skilled immigrants bring to the economy.
Trump’s renewed support for the H-1B program contrasts with his promises to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally and impose tariffs to foster job creation for American citizens. This development has triggered a broader conversation among global readers, business professionals, and academics about the future of skilled immigration and its impact on the economy.
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Trump sides with Elon Musk in H-1B visa program, triggering debate
cgtn.com
