President Donald Trump weighed in on the ongoing debate over the H-1B visa program, saying he is on ‘both sides’ of the argument. However, he clarified that his focus is on expanding the program to include a broader range of professionals, including maitre d’s, wine experts, and high-quality waiters.
The H-1B visa program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations for up to six years. There is ongoing debate within the Republican Party, including among Trump’s administration, about its impact. Some conservatives argue the program has been abused, with foreign workers replacing American employees at lower wages.
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Trump expressed support for skilled foreign workers, saying, “I like both sides of the argument, but I also like very competent people coming into our country.” He emphasized that the program should not be limited to engineers. “I’m talking about people at all levels,” he added. “Maitre D’s, wine experts, even waiters—high-quality waiters. You’ve got to get the best people now.”
Trump also pointed to tech industry leaders, such as Larry Ellison of Oracle, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Masayoshi Son, the Japanese billionaire, who rely on skilled engineers. “They need engineers like nobody’s ever needed,” Trump noted.
The president stressed that bringing talented individuals into the US through the H-1B program would help expand businesses and benefit the economy. “By doing that, we’re expanding businesses, and that takes care of everybody,” he said.
The US issues 85,000 H-1B visas annually, with a significant portion going to workers from India. Trump’s comments reflect his desire to balance the need for skilled labor with concerns over job opportunities for American workers.