President Trump recently posted on Truth Social, urging foreign companies investing in the U.S. to bring in expert personnel temporarily to train American workers in manufacturing complex products like semiconductors, ships, and high-tech machinery.
He emphasized that this knowledge transfer is essential to relearn skills the U.S. once excelled at but has lost, stating, “If we didn’t do this, all of that massive Investment will never come in the first place.” Trump clarified that these foreign experts should “phase out of our Country” after training, allowing Americans to take over and even surpass their capabilities in the future.
This announcement comes in the aftermath of a major ICE raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction in Georgia, where nearly 500 workers, including over 300 South Korean nationals, were arrested for alleged visa violations. The raid, the largest single-site immigration enforcement operation in DHS history, involved workers on short-term business visas or visa waivers who were installing production lines, leading to their detention in chains and shackles, which sparked widespread outrage. South Korea’s government expressed deep concern and regret over the operation, dispatching diplomats to the site and urging the U.S. to respect its citizens’ rights, while President Lee Jae Myung warned that such incidents could make companies “very hesitant” about future U.S. investments.
In response to the diplomatic tensions, South Korea arranged a chartered flight to repatriate the 316 Korean workers, amid emotional scenes at Incheon Airport, with media outlets decrying the treatment as humiliating and a “breach of trust” between allies. Hyundai confirmed the raid would delay the plant’s opening by at least two months, as the company scrambles to replace skilled workers and complete the $4.3 billion project, potentially jeopardizing thousands of American jobs.
Responses to Trump’s announcement have been mixed, with supporters praising it as a smart way to boost domestic manufacturing without permanent foreign labor replacement, as seen in positive X posts calling it a “great idea” to prioritize American training. Critics, however, view it as inconsistent with Trump’s “America First” rhetoric, pointing out the irony of welcoming foreign trainers shortly after the raid, which strained a key alliance and risked billions in investments from South Korea.
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