Trump Praises H-1B Visa as 'Fantastic', Signals Support

US President-elect Donald Trump has reversed his earlier stance and now endorses the H-1B visa program, admitting that he has frequently used it for his own companies.

As reported by the New York Post, he described it as a 'fantastic program.' He said "I hold multiple H-1B visas for my assets. I strongly believe in the H-1B program and have used it often. It's a fantastic initiative."

In Trump's first term, the administration imposed limitations on H-1B visas, citing concerns over misuse and economic strain.

In 2016, Trump condemned the program, asserting that it permitted companies to replace American employees with low-wage foreign workers. In 2020, restrictions were intensified further because of the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump's latest remarks come after a notable split within his MAGA team in the U.S. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who advocated for extending the visa program for 'highly skilled workers,' faced intense resistance from the president-elect's backers.

Musk and Ramaswamy, both foreign-born leaders heading Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have sparked renewed discussions on H-1B visas, highlighting the splits in immigration policy as Trump gets ready to assume office.

The debate over the H1B visa has highlighted major disparities in U.S. immigration policy, particularly regarding the balance between skilled immigration and nurturing the domestic workforce. With Indian workers constituting 72 percent of H1B visa holders in the fiscal year 2023, this matter also impacts US-India relations.