Direct Statement from the President
President Donald Trump has a message for his MAGA base regarding immigration. And he knows they don’t want to hear it.
On Wednesday, the president once again defended visas for highly skilled workers, arguing that Americans do not have enough knowledge to perform certain jobs. He pointed to a multibillion-dollar chip manufacturing expansion in Arizona, noting that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will bring in thousands of workers, whom he "welcomes."
"I love my conservative friends. I love MAGA. But this is MAGA, and these people will teach our people how to make computer chips, and in a short period of time, our people will achieve great results."
– said Trump during a speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center.
The Sharpest Position
These remarks represent the sharpest defense of Trump’s immigration stance to date and show that the president is aware of the need to convince the hawks in his party.
Nearly a year after returning to the White House, Trump’s insistence that legal immigration is not only acceptable but economically necessary continues to outrage right-wing radicals who clash with the businesses and tech companies with which Trump has long associated himself.
"The people who are against us are really very smart. They are incredible patriots, but they just don’t understand – our people need to be trained."
– Trump stated.
He added that companies investing large sums in building factories should "bring many of their people from their country to open, start, and run the factory. Sorry. So my ratings just dropped, but among smart people, they went up significantly."
MAGA Outrage Continues
Trump’s statement is unlikely to quell the MAGA anger that flares up every few months since the president's election. Many saw him as someone who would fight to limit almost all immigration due to fears of job loss or, more controversially, racially tinged fears about replacing Americans with foreigners.
Trump reignited the debate earlier this month when he stated on Fox News that Americans lack "certain talents" to perform jobs, responding to Laura Ingraham, who pressed him on his position regarding visas for highly skilled workers known as H-1B.
The President's Dilemma
With little hope that Congress will find a solution to immigration, the president has found himself in a deadlock of his own making. He is stuck between those in his base and administration who want to overhaul the work visa system and others who argue that the economy relies on low- and high-skilled immigrant labor, and that the country’s policies should reflect this reality.
"You have things like H-1B that take jobs away from Americans, that’s a huge problem."
– Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene told reporters last week, adding that this is a key issue for her constituents.
Defense Against Criticism
Some of Trump’s allies argue that the outrage is unfounded, pointing to the president's September decision to charge $100,000 for new visa applications through the H-1B program, which allows workers such as engineers and programmers to work temporarily in the U.S. This move was designed to reduce the number of visas used by American companies.
The White House claims that Trump has done more than previous presidents to prioritize American workers by tightening immigration laws.
"Under the bold leadership of the president, all new jobs have gone exclusively to American workers; critical and long-overdue reforms to the H-1B visa process are underway; American manufacturing is coming back through strong tariffs and trade agreements; and illegal immigrants are no longer stealing taxpayer-funded benefits."
– said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers.
Not the First Time
Trump’s comments on Wednesday are not the only instance where he has shown a soft spot in his otherwise hardline immigration stance. He sparked MAGA backlash in June when he promised solutions for farmers relying on undocumented labor. And after pledging to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students earlier this year, the president changed course, announcing that he would allow 600,000 Chinese students to attend American universities.
Conflict with Hawks
Trump’s comments at the Kennedy Center contradict immigration hawks and high-ranking officials in his administration who insist on the need to restructure the program.
"The H-1B visa system is not being abused; it works exactly as intended – to displace American workers and prevent protections."
– said Kevin Lynn, a fellow at the right-leaning Institute for Sound Public Policy in Washington.
It also seems that Trump’s message contradicts Vice President J.D. Vance, who in a separate Fox News interview last week said that the U.S. should use technology to "empower workers, not replace them with foreign labor."
Technological Ties
Trump’s rift with his base reflects his desire to increase investments in the technology and manufacturing sectors, which he believes would be impossible – in the short term – without foreign workers.
The president also has close ties to the tech industry, the main user of the H-1B program. During the last fiscal year, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google relied heavily on H-1B visas. These companies generously contributed to Trump’s efforts, including his inaugural fund and a $300 million ballroom that will replace the White House’s East Wing.
"You’ve seen the list... they’re all there, and they all want their H-1B workers. So he hears about this from all these people."
– said a source close to the administration.
Congressional Reaction
Trump’s defense of foreign workers raises concerns that it will kill the already slim chance of Congress passing immigration reform. However, some lawmakers are moving forward with bills to restructure a system that they say increasingly harms American college graduates.
"I tend to be skeptical of this program. Overall, we want to do everything we can to promote American workers and get as many Americans employed as possible, raising wages. I tend to look at all our visa policies through that lens."
– said Senator Josh Hawley, adding that the president's $100,000 fee for H-1B applicants is a "good idea."
Senator Jim Banks introduced a bill in September that would restructure the lottery system for H-1B visas. More legislation on H-1B is expected in the coming weeks and months, although it is unclear if there will be appetite without White House support.
"There is a political imperative after Republicans lost. Real elections are a year away, and there are many messages from the Department of Labor and DHS about protecting American workers. But action is needed."
– said Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, which advocates for limiting legal immigration.
