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

US President-elect Donald Trump has weighed in after his advisers argued over the H-1B visa program.

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

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

"I'm a believer in H-1B. I've 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, who were chosen by Mr Trump to co-head an informal advisory board on budget savings and government efficiency, strongly support the H-1B visa program because they believe the US produces too few highly skilled graduates, according to AFP.

Mr Musk, who came to the US from South Africa on an H-1B visa, wrote on his social network X that attracting foreign technical talent is key to America's continued success.

Meanwhile, Mr Ramaswamy, whose parents immigrated from India, criticised “American culture” which he said worshipped mediocrity and warned that the US was at risk of 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 like popularity, attractiveness, or physicality), it can be detrimental to the development of important skills and talents in engineering and science.

The billionaires' comments have angered many prominent anti-immigration conservatives who have long supported Mr Trump. "I'm looking forward to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech," said Laura Loomer, a far-right Make America Great Again (MAGA) advocate who frequently appeared with Mr Trump on the campaign trail. "We have to protect the president from technocrats," said Loomer. According to AFP, Ms Loomer and others believe Mr Trump should prioritize US workers and further restrict immigration.

In response, Mr. Musk warned of a “MAGA civil war” and declared his readiness to go to war with a critic over the issue. “The reason I am in the United States with so many important people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that make America strong is because of the H-1B,” Mr. Musk said.

Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist under Trump, said the H-1B program brought in immigrants who were essentially “contract slaves” working for lower wages than US 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 have expressed concern that Mr Trump could be influenced by big donors like Mr Musk and stray from his campaign promises.

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