BREAKING: Trump responds to question on foreign work visas after huge debate erupts online

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From the New York Post: President-elect Trump told The Post Saturday he supports immigration visas for highly skilled workers, appearing to side with Elon Musk in the roiling intra-MAGA debate on the issue.

“I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump said by phone, referring to the H-1B program, which permits companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.

“I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” added Trump, who restricted access to foreign worker visas in his first administration and has been critical of the program in the past.

Musk and other tech barons argued this week that the H-1B visa program is critical to ensuring American companies can find highly skilled labor which may not be easily available in the U.S. labor force and must be expanded.

Several people are pointing out that Trump misspoke, as he doesn’t actually have many H-1B visa workers on his properties, but instead has more J1 visas, or H-2B visa workers, which are described as “non-agricultural foreign workers to fill temporary labor needs.”

H-1B visas are for high-skilled workers for ‘specialty occupations.’

Others are questioning whether Trump is actually aware of the entire catfight that broke out on social media this week, which has created a huge fracture among his base.

Journalist Collin Rugg shared a video clip from a recent interview with Trump, as he spoke about the work visas.

However, Trump has also repeatedly voiced support for companies to hire American workers, and condemned the abuse in the visa worker program during a speech from his first term in office.

Adding to the controversy, during Trump’s 2016 campaign, he said the H-1B visa program is bad for workers.

Journalist Laura Loomer shared a statement from Trump in March 2016, as he vowed to end the abuse in the H-1B visa program.

The heated debate that erupted on social media this week got fiery, and even ugly, as concerns were raised over the number of tech executives now flocking to Mar-a-Lago and doling out money to Trump, who are also calling for increases in the number of H-1B visas, particularly from India.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump has appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), jumped into the fray, with Musk taking on a very angry tone at times, and even de-platforming some who spoke out against the tech executives calling for more H-1B visas.

As the discussion became more and more heated, many MAGA supporters have now blasted Musk, noting they voted for LESS immigration, and free speech.

Others are siding with Musk and Ramaswamy, saying they just want ILLEGAL immigration stopped, but are fine with LEGAL immigration and work visas as long as they are based on merit.

Musk lashed out in a profanity-laced tirade Friday night, writing, “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”

Musk and Ramaswamy have both acknowledged there is also fraud involved with the work visa program, and agreed it should be reformed.

Pinned to the top of his page on X, Musk has posted the following statement: “America rose to greatness over the past 150 years, because it was a meritocracy more than anywhere else on Earth. I will fight to my last drop of blood to ensure that it remains that land of freedom and opportunity. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸.”

Longtime Trump advisor Steve Bannon has weighed in on the issue as well, and pushed back against the idea of an increase in the work visas.

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