Trump Shifts Stance, Defends Use of Skilled Foreign Workers in Key Sectors
In a notable departure from his typically hardline immigration rhetoric, former President Donald Trump has voiced support for skilled foreign labor, arguing that the United States needs “certain talents” from abroad to fill critical gaps in its workforce.
The comments were made during an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, where Trump specifically defended the H-1B visa program, which is commonly used by technology companies and other industries to employ highly skilled foreign workers.
“You don’t have certain talents. And you have to — people have to learn,” Trump stated, pushing back against the suggestion that the U.S. already has sufficient homegrown talent. He pointed to specialized sectors like technology, defense, and manufacturing as areas where foreign expertise remains vital, adding that not every unemployed American can immediately “start making missiles.”
This new position marks a significant softening from policies enacted during his presidency. The Trump administration had previously tightened access to various work visas and significantly raised H-1B application fees, with some reports citing figures as high as $100,000, as part of a broader “America First” agenda.
The defense of the H-1B program underscores a recognition that some industries rely on a global talent pool to maintain competitiveness and innovation, even as the broader debate over immigration reform continues to be a central and divisive issue in American politics.
About The Author
