Like Elon Musk, Donald Trump said he was in favor of a category of American visas intended for qualified foreign workers.
For several days, the Tesla boss has been arguing over the issue with other conservative figures from the Trump clan, with ardently anti-immigration positions.
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American election: Donald Trump elected
While part of the Trumpist base is very angry with Elon Musk, he has received significant support. Donald Trump said this Saturday that he was in favor, like his billionaire friend, of a category of American visas intended for qualified foreign workers, at a time when dissensions on the subject are agitating his own camp. “I have always believed in the H1-B program. I have used it many times“, the president-elect told the conservative tabloid New York Post (new window)in reference to the employees of its own companies.
Trump opposed the H1-B visa in the past
For several days, some of his supporters from tech (new window)including Elon Musk, are fighting over the issue with other conservative figures from his clan, with ardently anti-immigration positions. H1-B visas allow companies to bring foreign workers with specific qualifications to the United States and are widely used by Silicon Valley. In the past, Donald Trump had nevertheless expressed his opposition to H1-B visas which he described as “very unfair to our workers” Americans. During his first term, he put in place certain restrictions on these visas, before they were lifted by the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden.
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Musk vs MAGA: Debate over visas for foreign workers cracks Trump coalition
The multi-billionaire Elon Musk, who became close to Donald Trump and a native of South Africa, himself benefited in the past from this type of visa. “The reason I’m in America as the essential people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies… is because of H1B.”thundered Elon Musk on his X network on Friday, promising to “go to war on this issue”.
A speech that disturbs certain conservative figures, while Donald Trump was elected with a primarily anti-immigration program. Donald Trump’s former adviser at the White House, the very right-wing Steve Bannon, castigated Friday in a broadcast “scam by Silicon Valley oligarchs to take jobs from American citizens”.
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