U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to continuing the H-1B visa route. He stated some industries depend on global expertise that cannot be easily replaced by local labor.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump pushed back against the suggestion. He disputed that reducing H-1B visa holders and foreign workers would help raise wages for American workers.
He argued that highly technical industries such as defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing require specialized skills. Many Americans have yet to develop these skills.
“You have to bring in talent, When you don’t have certain talents, people have to learn and you can’t just take someone off the unemployment line and put them into a factory making missiles. It doesn’t work that way.” He said.
He cited an example from Georgia, where authorities recently raided a facility employing South Korean workers experienced in battery manufacturing.
“These are people who have made batteries all their lives. It’s complicated, dangerous work; there are explosions and problems, and you need that kind of skill to train others. You can’t just replace them overnight,” Trump said.
The president acknowledged differences with Ingraham, who questioned whether prioritizing foreign labor could undermine efforts to raise wages for American workers. Trump countered that while he supports higher pay and more jobs for Americans, industries investing billions in U.S. factories need specialized skills to function effectively.