Musk and Ramaswamy defend foreign worker visas, sparking MAGA backlash!

Social media posts from Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy advocating for expanding the visa program for highly skilled workers have ignited a debate among supporters of President-elect Donald Trump about how this program aligns with the upcoming administration’s immigration policies. Musk and Ramaswamy, who Trump has chosen to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, defended the use of workers on H-1B visas by companies, stating that tech companies, including those led by Musk, rely on foreign workers. This viewpoint has caused some of Trump’s loyal followers, who anticipate a strict immigration crackdown and emphasis on American labor, to express disagreement.

During his first term, Trump limited access to foreign worker visas and has previously criticized the H-1B program. However, he hinted at the possibility of granting legal status to foreign-born workers who have graduated from US universities during the 2024 campaign. Musk emphasized on social media the importance of having more engineers in the US, likening the need to recruit top talent globally to a professional sports team aiming for victory.

Ramaswamy, a first-generation US citizen with immigrant parents, supported Musk’s stance, defending the hiring of foreign-born engineers by tech companies. He argued that American culture tends to value mediocrity over excellence, pointing to popular TV shows from the ’90s as examples. The duo’s support for foreign workers faced criticism from MAGA supporters, fearing that expanding the H-1B program could contradict their desire for stricter immigration policies under Trump. Notable figures like Laura Loomer, Ann Coulter, and Matt Gaetz chastised Musk and Ramaswamy for their views.

The comments made by Musk and Ramaswamy also drew a response from former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who urged the incoming administration to prioritize American workers over foreign workers. She emphasized the value of American workers and culture, highlighting the aspirations of individuals seeking what the US has to offer.

“Itizing in Americans, not foreign workers,” Haley wrote on Thursday. Musk and Ramaswamy’s stance has garnered support from some Democrats as well. “They get it partially right, absolutely,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on “The Source” Thursday night, commending their acknowledgment of the value of immigrant entrepreneurs while expressing the hope that they also recognize the role lower-skilled immigrants play in other sectors of the American economy, such as agriculture and construction. “There are millions of Americans working for companies founded by immigrants. Those jobs wouldn’t exist today if we hadn’t allowed those immigrants in,” Polis stated.

Trump has previously been against such visas. The H-1B visa program permits 65,000 highly skilled workers to immigrate to the US annually to fill specific jobs and grants another 20,000 visas to such workers who have obtained an advanced degree in the US. Economists argue that the program enables US companies to sustain competitiveness and expand their businesses, thereby creating more jobs in the US. The program is commonly associated with the tech sector, where there is a high demand for specialized workers. Musk arrived in the US as a foreign student and later worked on an H1-B visa.

Trump has previously been critical of H-1B visas, harshly criticizing them during his initial presidential campaign as a means of “abuse.” In a statement in 2016, Trump condemned the H-1B program as a tool for US companies to bring in foreign workers “explicitly to substitute for American workers at lower pay.” In 2020, Trump imposed restrictions on H-1B visas on multiple occasions, part of the administration’s efforts to limit legal immigration while responding to the changing economic circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, in his recent presidential campaign, Trump has displayed a more accepting attitude towards highly skilled foreigners coming to work in the US. During a podcast interview in June, Trump expressed his desire to provide permanent residency to any foreign national who graduates from college in the US. “What I want to do, and what I will do is – you graduate from a college, I think you should automatically receive, as part of your diploma, a green card to stay in this country,” Trump stated on the “All In” podcast.

Musk’s clash with members of Trump’s base regarding the visa issue signifies another episode in the tech billionaire’s growing influence within the president-elect’s circle. Following Musk’s leadership in opposing a bipartisan government funding bill, which was ultimately withdrawn once Trump objected, Democrats began mockingly referring to the tech mogul as “President Musk,” insinuating that Musk was dictating policy objectives to Trump. During a conservative activist gathering in Arizona on Sunday, Trump responded to the criticism from Democrats. “No, he’s not assuming the presidency. I like having smart people,” Trump declared. “They’re on a new kick. ‘Russia, Russia, Russia,’ ‘Ukraine

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