US President Donald Trump has openly defended the use of skilled foreign workers through H-1B visas, creating a significant rift within his conservative support base. During the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, Trump argued that these visas are crucial for launching major technology projects in the United States.
Trump's Surprising Stance on Foreign Talent
Speaking at the Wednesday forum, the president specifically pointed to a planned computer chip factory in Arizona as evidence supporting his position. Trump emphasized that employers cannot realistically hire from unemployment lines for highly technical roles requiring specialized expertise.
"You can't come in, open a massive computer chip factory for billions and billions of dollars like is being done in Arizona, and think you're gonna hire people off an unemployment line to run it," Trump stated. "They're gonna have to bring thousands of people with them and I'm gonna welcome those people."
In a direct message to his supporters, Trump added: "I love my conservative friends, I love MAGA, but this is MAGA." This represents a notable shift from his traditional America First rhetoric that has defined his political movement.
Conservative Backlash and Divided Reactions
The president's comments have ignited fierce debate within conservative circles, coming weeks after his Fox News interview where he claimed the United States lacks talent for certain specialist industries. Trump repeated at the forum that foreign experts would help train American workers to operate advanced factories, calling this approach in the national interest.
Hardline MAGA supporters immediately accused Trump of abandoning his America First promise, arguing he appeared to be siding with corporate interests over American workers. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, previously a Trump loyalist, blasted the H-1B remarks, claiming American students were being "pushed aside for foreign tech workers."
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer went further, suggesting the president was being steered into "globalist policy," while Nick Fuentes called the stance a "betrayal of the movement." Fuentes emphasized that MAGA voters never asked for increased imported labor.
Mixed Responses from Conservative Allies
While facing criticism from some quarters, Trump received support from other Republican figures who defended his pragmatic approach. Indian-origin MAGA ally Dinesh D'Souza described Trump's position as "pragmatic," while Vivek Ramaswamy noted that specialized roles cannot be filled overnight with domestic workers alone.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took a moderate position, acknowledging that the US still needs top-tier engineers for chip factories but urging companies to prioritize training Americans instead of relying on "permanent visa pipelines."
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension within conservative politics between economic pragmatism and immigration restrictions. Trump's $100,000 price tag for a national "talent challenge" floated earlier in September now appears at odds with his current defense of H-1B visas, creating confusion about his administration's consistent strategy for competing with China and rebuilding critical industries.
