US President-elect Donald Trump appeared to be taking the side of ally and tech billionaire Elon Musk on the ongoing H-1B controversy and said America needs “smart people” coming to our country. Mr Musk recently caused political turmoil in the Republican camp after vowing to “go to war” to protect the H-1B visa program.
“I always felt that we should have the most capable people in our country. We need capable people. We need smart people coming to our country. We need a lot of people coming in. We will get the same jobs as We have them.” Never happened before,” Mr Trump told a reporter at his New Year’s Eve party.
BREAKING: Donald Trump forms alliance with Elon Musk in support of H1B visas.
“We need to have the most capable people in our country. We need smart people coming into our country and we need a lot of people coming in.” pic.twitter.com/Cv3amxJjT0
– DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) 1 January 2025
Donald Trump has chosen Elon Musk along with Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
About the H-1B Visa Program
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialized occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Tech companies depend on it to hire thousands of workers every year from countries like India and China, and hence, the sector has long sought more H-1B visas to attract high-skilled workers to the US. Is.
But, Donald Trump’s first administration restricted the program in 2020, arguing that it allows businesses to replace Americans with low-wage foreign workers. As Mr Trump prepares to seek a second term in the White House, many supporters of the Republican leader and immigration hard-liners are pushing to end the program.
However, Mr. Musk, who himself was once on an H-1B visa, and whose electric vehicle company Tesla has hired workers using the program, defended the need for the tech industry to hire foreign workers. He was continuously posting on X in favor of the program.
“There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent. This is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley,” Mr Musk wrote on X on December 25.
Debate on H-1B visa
However, a debate erupted when right-wing influential Laura Loomer criticized Mr Trump’s selection of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as an advisor on artificial intelligence policy in his incoming administration. Mr. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants to the United States.
Ms. Loomer declared this stance “not an America First policy” and said that the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Mr. Trump are doing so to enrich themselves.
The debate intensified when Mr. Ramaswamy criticized American culture for promoting mediocrity rather than focusing on academic excellence and success based on merit. “Hopefully Trump’s election marks the beginning of a new golden age in America, but only if our culture fully awakens. A culture that once again prioritizes achievement over mediocrity; excellence over mediocrity; Stupidity over laziness,” Mr Ramaswamy said on Thursday.
He faced backlash for this comment. In response, Mr Musk called on the Republican Party to remove “disgusting idiots” who oppose his immigration agenda.
“The reason I am in America, along with many of the important people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that make America strong, is because of H-1B,” Mr Musk wrote on Twitter.
