Trump speaks out amid internal controversy over H-1B visas

US President-elect Donald Trump has commented after his advisers debated the H-1B visa program.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant U.S. visa that allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers to work in the U.S. for a specified period, particularly in fields such as technology and science . Tech billionaires who have recently become allies of Trump, such as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have clashed with his longtime allies over the H-1B visa program.

The controversy prompted the president-elect to speak out to defuse it. In an interview with the New York Post on December 28, his first comment since the controversy erupted last week, Trump said: "I've always liked the (H-1B) visa, I've always supported it, that's why we have them at my facilities." Trump said he has hired many H-1B employees to work at his facilities.

"I am a believer in the H-1B program. I have used it many times. It's a great program," Trump said.

Billionaire Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump at SpaceX's facility in Texas in November.

The two billionaires, chosen by Trump to co-lead an informal advisory board on budget savings and government efficiency, strongly support the H-1B visa program, arguing that the U.S. produces too few highly skilled graduates, according to AFP.

Musk, who came to the U.S. from South Africa on an H-1B visa, wrote on his X social media account that attracting technical talent from abroad is key to America's continued success.

Meanwhile, Ramaswamy, whose parents are immigrants from India, criticized "American culture" which he considers to glorify mediocrity and warned that the US risks being overtaken by China.

Ramaswamy points out that when society prioritizes prominent figures in fields unrelated to science, technology, or engineering (he cites television characters built around traits such as fame, attractive personality, or physical attributes), it can be detrimental to the development of skills and talents crucial in the fields of science and engineering.

The remarks by the two billionaires provoked angry reactions from many prominent anti-immigration conservatives who have long supported Trump. "I'm looking forward to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech," said Laura Loomer, a far-right supporter of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) policy and a frequent participant in Trump's recent campaign. "We have to protect the President from technocrats," Loomer said. According to AFP, Loomer and others argue that Trump should prioritize American labor and further restrict immigration.

In response, Musk warned of "a MAGA civil war" and declared his readiness to wage war against anyone who criticized him on the issue. "The reason I'm in America with so many important people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that have made America strong is because of H-1B," Musk said.

Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist during Trump's first term, argued that the H-1B program only brings in immigrants who are mostly "contract slaves," working for lower wages than American citizens. Bannon also attacked Musk, calling the Tesla CEO a "child."

President-elect Trump's comments suggest he is siding with the two billionaires. According to AFP, some of his longtime supporters are expressing concerns that Trump might be influenced by major donors like Musk and deviate from his campaign promises.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-len-tieng-giua-tranh-cai-noi-bo-ve-thi-thuc-h-1b-185241229072713638.htm