 "US President Donald Trump holds a 'Make America Great Again' (Maga) hat as he attends the commencement ceremony at West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York, US, May 24, 2025. File Image/Reuters")
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday admitted that he has been criticised by several “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) supporters for his stance on skilled immigrants. Trump maintained that high-tech, skilled workers are needed to support the expansion of the advanced domestic manufacturing sector.
Trump has been in the headlines for his crackdown on immigration and has often made headlines with his stringent immigration policies. While addressing a gathering of business executives at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington. Trump said that America needs immigrants who can train domestic workers in high-tech factories.
He insisted that doing so would not mean not getting away from his core political beliefs. “I love my conservative friends. I love MAGA. But this is MAGA,” Trump said during the address at the forum, which he attended alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is on a visit to the US.
Trump opens doors for skilled immigrants
Trump claimed that skilled workers can be beneficial for the United States. “Those people are going to teach our people how to make computer chips, and in a short period of time, our people are going to be doing great. And those people can go home,” the American leader averred.
The remarks by Trump drew applause in the room, but the Republicans have remained divided over the matter. Fox News’ Laura Ingraham had suggested during the interview with Trump that “you can’t flood the country with tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of foreign workers,” to which the US president had responded, “You also do have to bring in talent.”
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View AllIngraham responded to Trump’s assertion, insisting that the US had “plenty of talented people here.” Trump said, “No, you don’t,” and added that “people have to learn.” The brief exchange drew backlash from conservatives and MAGA supporters who have opposed H-1B visa expansion and other schemes of the administration that allow skilled immigrants to enter the US and let them stay in the country.