Divergence in Trump's Camp on Skilled Immigration: Trump Expresses Support for Musk's Backing of H-1B Visa Program | WPN World People News

The H-1B work visa for skilled immigrants is an important source of talent for the U.S. tech industry. However, the question of whether skilled immigrants are taking away jobs from Americans has recently caused division within Donald Trump's camp. Trump had previously stated at a campaign rally that immigrants were stealing jobs from Americans and that they should be required to leave the U.S. This led some companies to issue warnings, advising immigrant employees to return to the U.S. before Trump’s inauguration. However, as Elon Musk became a key advisor to Trump, the former president changed his stance on December 28, expressing strong support for Musk and emphasizing the importance of high-skill immigration visa programs.

Musk and Silicon Valley’s support for the H-1B visa program has recently come into conflict with traditional right-wing anti-immigrant supporters within Trump's camp. Both Musk and biotech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy argue that the H-1B visa program should be strongly supported to boost the pool of skilled talent within the U.S., which they believe is crucial for maintaining America's competitive edge. Musk himself came to the U.S. on an H-1B visa and later became a naturalized citizen. Last year, Tesla applied for 724 H-1B visas. Ramaswamy, who is of Indian immigrant descent, has also openly criticized "American culture" for promoting mediocrity, which he believes could result in the U.S. being overtaken by China. In an interview with the *New York Post*, Trump expressed his support for Musk's views, stating, "I’ve always liked the H-1B visa and have always supported such visas."

However, far-right figures like Laura Loomer have expressed frustration, claiming that many in Trump’s camp are unwilling to challenge Musk. Loomer and other accounts with hardline immigration stances have been restricted from verification and other functions on Musk’s platform, X (formerly Twitter). Loomer emphasized, "When a billionaire donates $200 million to help a presidential campaign, that's a problem. We should clearly define campaign finance regulations." According to the Federal Election Commission, Musk donated $239 million to the America PAC, which is supporting Trump’s campaign. Loomer further accused, "We must protect President Trump from the influence of technocrats."