President-elect Donald Trump was asked by a reporter on Tuesday night at his New Year’s Eve party, “Why’d you change your mind on H-1B visas?” and he responded in part, “I didn’t change my mind.”
Why It Matters
An H-1B visa is a tool in an immigration program designed for highly skilled workers and the Biden administration said this month that it plans to speed up applications in an overhaul of the program, and that it would punish companies that may be abusing it.
Trump has previously denounced the program, calling it “unfair” to American workers and “very bad,” according to the Associated Press.
What To Know
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach estate and resort, the president-elect on Tuesday night replied to a reporter asking him about his stance on the program: “I didn’t change my mind. I always felt we have to have the most competent people in our country. We need competent people. We need smart people coming into our country. We need a lot of people coming in. We’re going to have jobs like we’ve never had before,” Trump said.
Newsweek has reached out to the Trump transition team via email Tuesday night for comment.
Trump also spoke about the visa program in a comment to the New York Post on Saturday, saying in part, “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” he said via phone call.
Trump aligned himself with his billionaire supporter Elon Musk, who has also praised the program amid backlash from MAGA.
Billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy—Trump backer and future co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Musk—previously posted about his dislike for the visa program, saying on X, formerly Twitter, “I’ve said it countless times in the last 2 years & will say it again: the H-1B system is badly broken & should be replaced with one that focuses on selecting the very best of the best (not a lottery), pro-competitive (no indentured service to one company), and de-bureaucratized.”
What People Are Saying
Political analyst Craig Agranoff told Newsweek via text message Tuesday night: “His support for H1B visas might seem at odds with the broader ‘America First’ stance that resonates with much of his MAGA base. Many within that movement view these visas as competing with American workers for jobs, especially in tech sectors. His position could alienate some staunch supporters who feel strongly about prioritizing domestic labor.
“It’s also important to note that Trump has always balanced his populist rhetoric with policies that appeal to business interests. The H1B program is valued by many industries for bringing in skilled labor, and Trump may be trying to maintain support from the business community while framing his stance as pro-growth and beneficial to the U.S. economy. Whether this creates lasting friction with his base will depend on how effectively he communicates the economic benefits of H1B visas in a way that aligns with the MAGA vision.”
Immigration attorney Steven Brown said on X in response to Trump’s answer about H-1B visas Tuesday night, “Interesting #H1B news, pleasantly surprised to see from DJT.”
Progressive media outlet MeidasTouch posted to X: “Elon owns him.”
What Happens Next
Trump’s inauguration is January 20 at the U.S. Capitol.