It’s a great program: Trump appears to side with Musk in H-1B visa row

Trump praises visas for skilled foreign workers, despite past criticism, sparking debate within conservative base and tech industry.

President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters.

Mr. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday (December 28, 2024), praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. The topic has become a flashpoint within his conservative base.

“I have always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Mr. Trump said.

In fact, Mr. Trump has in the past criticised the H-1B visas, calling them “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. During his first term as President, he unveiled a “Hire American” policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants.

Despite his criticism of them and attempts to curb their use, he has also used the visas at his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview Saturday (December 28, 2024).

“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,” Mr. Trump told the newspaper.

He did not appear to address questions about whether he would pursue any changes to the number or use of the visas once he takes office January 20, 2025.