US President-elect, Donald Trump has expressed support for the H-1B visa program, aligning with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in a public dispute over skilled immigrant workers.
The statement marked a significant shift in tone from Trump’s earlier position on the matter, as he had moved to limit the visas’ use during his first presidency.
A media publication reported that Trump restated his belief in the value of the program and described it as a great program that he had utilized extensively in his own businesses.
“I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” the US President-elect stated.
Trump comments came in response to a series of social media posts by Musk, who had promised to go to war to defend the visa program against criticism from far-right activists and immigration hardliners.
Musk, a naturalized US citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa himself.
His electric car company, Tesla, secured 724 of the visas in 2024 alone, highlighting the program’s importance to the tech industry.
