In the midst of a heated debate that has divided the American political right, former President Donald Trump has publicly aligned himself with tech mogul Elon Musk over the contentious issue of H-1B skilled worker visas.
This surprising revelation came during a phone conversation with The New York Post on Saturday, where Trump expressed his support for the visa program, stating, Ive always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. Thats why we have them.
The former president further elaborated on his stance, adding, I have many H-1B visas on my properties. Ive been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. Its a great program. This endorsement comes as a surprise, given Trump's previous silence on the matter, which has sparked intense online debates among his most ardent supporters.
According to The Independent, during his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump had signed an executive order restricting access to such visas. He had also criticized the program, labeling it as very bad for Americans. However, his recent comments indicate a shift in his stance, aligning him with tech leaders like Musk, who have emphasized the importance of H-1B visas in sourcing skilled workers.
This issue has created a rift within the conservative camp, with America First hardliners advocating for stricter immigration restrictions at all levels in a potential new Trump administration. Musk, on the other hand, has been vocal about his readiness to go to war over this issue, even resorting to harsh language against critics on social media.
The feud has also drawn in far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has criticized Musk and Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy for their support of the visa program and their perceived criticism of American cultural values and workers. This has reignited Loomer's feud with former UN ambassador Nikki Haley.
Loomer expressed her frustration over the removal of her social media verification, accusing Musk of retaliation and asserting her support for Trump's original immigration policies. She wrote, Looks like Elon Musk is going to be silencing me for supporting original Trump immigration policies. I have always been America First and a die hard supporter of President Trump and I believe that promises made should be promises kept. Donald Trump promised to remove the H1B visa program and I support his policy. Now, as one of Trumps biggest supporters, Im having my free speech silenced by a tech billionaire for simply questioning the tech oligarchy.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon joined the fray, deriding Musk as a toddler, and challenging him to bring it after the South African-born mogul declared he would fight to my last drop of blood over the issue. This ongoing dispute underscores the complexities and divisions within the conservative camp over immigration policies, particularly the H-1B visa program. As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these divergent viewpoints will shape the future of American immigration policy.
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