President-elect Donald Trump publicly backed billionaire tech CEO Elon Musk on Saturday in a contentious debate over the H-1B visa program, a system that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign skilled workers.
Despite opposition from some of his supporters, Trump reaffirmed his support for the program, calling it “a great program” in an interview with The New York Post.
“I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times,” Trump said, signaling a shift from his previous efforts to limit the program during his first presidency.
The dispute began earlier in the week after far-right activists criticized Trump’s decision to appoint Sriram Krishnan, an Indian American venture capitalist, as an adviser on artificial intelligence. Critics argued that Krishnan’s involvement could influence immigration policies in favor of programs like H-1B.
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Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa and a former H-1B visa holder, responded forcefully on social media. On Friday, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO vowed to “go to war” to defend the visa program, which his companies heavily rely on. This year alone, Tesla secured 724 H-1B visas to hire skilled foreign workers.
The controversy has further highlighted divisions within Trump’s base, particularly among hardline immigration opponents. Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump confidant, weighed in on Friday, criticizing “big tech oligarchs” for supporting H-1B visas and warning that immigration posed a threat to Western civilization.
In contrast, Musk and other tech leaders have defended the program as vital to U.S. innovation, drawing a distinction between legal immigration through work visas and illegal immigration. Musk argued that there simply isn’t enough homegrown talent to meet the needs of the U.S. tech industry, a sentiment echoed by many in Silicon Valley.
The U.S. tech sector heavily depends on H-1B visas to fill critical roles, but critics contend that the program undercuts wages for American workers. The issue underscores a broader tension between Trump’s promises to restrict immigration and his reliance on tech leaders like Musk, who have been instrumental in shaping his transition team and policy agenda.
Despite the backlash, Trump’s remarks suggest that he is willing to support programs that align with his economic goals, even at the risk of alienating some of his staunchest supporters.
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