Trump says H-1B visa program is 'nice' amid MAGA feud over tech staff

President-elect Donald Trump weighed in on a simmering feud amongst MAGA allies over H-1B employee visas, telling the New York Put up that he helps this system, in accordance with the outlet.

Trump informed the New York Put up that he has “all the time appreciated the visas.” The H-1B visa program permits employers to briefly rent non-U.S. residents for extremely expert jobs.

“I’ve many H-1B visas on my properties. I have been a believer in H-1B. I’ve used it many instances. It is an ideal program,” he mentioned, in accordance with the outlet’s report.

A spokesperson for the Trump transition crew didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Throughout his first time period, the Trump administration applied guidelines that might have reduce the variety of H-1B visas issued every year. The principles, nonetheless, have been finally struck down in courtroom.

In current days, MAGA world has been embroiled in a debate over this system, with one faction defending the visas and one other faction arguing that this system permits foreigners to take American jobs.

Trump allies, together with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, argued in on-line posts that the visa program advantages the nation.

Musk mentioned in a put up this week that “the variety of people who find themselves tremendous proficient engineers AND tremendous motivated within the USA is much too low.”

Musk, who was born in South Africa and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, mentioned that the rationale he and others who constructed SpaceX and Tesla are within the U.S. is due to the H-1B program.

“Take a giant step again and F— YOURSELF within the face,” he mentioned in a put up. “I’ll go to battle on this problem the likes of which you can’t presumably comprehend.”

Musk mentioned in a put up to X that “these contemptible fools have to be faraway from the Republican Get together,” later clarifying that he was referring to “these within the Republican Get together who’re hateful, unrepentant racists.”

Musk’s posts got here in reply to a put up from Scott Adams, the creator of the “Dilbert” comedian, who mentioned, “MAGA is taking a web page from Democrats on find out how to lose elections whereas feeling good about themselves.”

Individually, Ramaswamy, who’s partnering with Musk to steer Trump’s nongovernmental Division of Authorities Effectivity, argued in a put up to X that he hopes American tradition once more prioritizes “arduous work over laziness.”

Ramaswamy additionally mentioned in a put up to X on Friday that the H-1B visa program “is badly damaged & ought to be changed with one which focuses on deciding on the easiest of the most effective (not a lottery), pro-competitive (no indentured service to at least one firm), and de-bureaucratized.”

Republicans who criticized H-1B visas included far-right activists Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley additionally weighed in, calling it “lazy” for the “tech business to routinely go to overseas staff for his or her wants.”

“Spend money on our American workforce,” she mentioned in a put up to X on Friday. “We should spend money on Individuals first earlier than trying elsewhere.”

Musk additionally confronted accusations of censoring critics after greater than a dozen conservatives, together with Loomer, mentioned their blue badge verification on X had been revoked after they criticized Musk over his views on immigration.