Why Is Trump Suddenly Praising Foreign Talent in Tech?

US President Donald Trump vigorously defended legal immigration, claiming that the country needs thousands of foreign skilled workers to develop domestic talent in cutting-edge tech sectors. Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, he underlined that large chip manufacturing facilities need to hire foreign specialists who can train Americans in high-skill fields like chip production because they cannot rely entirely on the current American labor force. Trump admitted that his position might infuriate conservative supporters, but he maintained that working with talent from around the world is necessary to improve America's workforce.

Trump reaffirmed his support for the H-1B visa program this week, citing the need for foreign labor to rebuild the nation's semiconductor capabilities. He claimed that because of a shortage of skilled labor, the US, which had previously led the world in chip manufacturing, had fallen behind countries like Taiwan. Republicans, many of whom call for limiting or doing away with H-1B visas, vigorously debated his remarks. When Fox News host Laura Ingraham questioned Trump's position, saying that America has enough talent, Trump bluntly replied, "No, We don't."

In the meantime, the White House explained that new regulations, like the proposed $100,000 supplemental fee for H-1B applications, are intended to prevent system abuse and shield American workers from being replaced by lower-paid foreign workers. A number of Republicans, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, have intensified their efforts to outlaw H-1B visas in the majority of industries. Despite political tension, data reveals that over 70% of all H-1B visas granted in 2024 went to professionals who were born in India. This was due to a significant backlog in US immigration processing and the growing need for skilled workers.