President-elect Donald Trump has voiced his strong support for H-1B visas, a program for highly skilled foreign workers, amidst growing debate within the Republican Party. His comments follow backlash against Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, key allies in his incoming administration, for advocating the program.
“I’ve always liked the visas; I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump said in a phone interview with The New York Post published Saturday. “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,” he added.
Trump’s endorsement of the H-1B program comes at a time when Musk and Ramaswamy, who are set to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), face criticism from some GOP members. Far-right activist Laura Loomer and other hard-line anti-immigration Republicans have challenged their stance on Musk’s platform, X.
The controversy intensified on Friday night when Musk issued a fiery response, pledging to “go to war” over the program. “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H-1B,” Musk wrote on X. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added.
The debate appears to have been reignited by comments from Sriram Krishnan, Trump’s pick for White House policy adviser on artificial intelligence. Last month, Krishnan suggested lifting caps on green cards for skilled immigrants, a proposal that resurfaced after his appointment was announced.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration recently introduced a rule clarifying eligibility for H-1B visas, following years of lobbying for reforms. This move has led some Democratic lawmakers to urge the current administration to address gaps in the immigration system before Trump’s expected tougher stance on immigration takes effect.
The issue underscores the deep divisions within the GOP over immigration policies, even as Trump prepares to take office.
