Ramaswamy and Elon Musk are facing pushback from some of Donald Trump’s far-right supporters over their support for H-1B visas, which allow skilled foreign workers to take jobs in the U.S.
The debate began during the holidays when conservative commentator Laura Loomer criticized Trump’s appointment of Sriram Krishnan, a tech entrepreneur, as a senior AI policy adviser. Loomer pointed to Krishnan’s advocacy for removing green card country caps as “disturbing.”
This sparked an online debate. Business leaders like Musk and Ramaswamy defended the importance of H-1B visas for attracting top global talent, while critics argued the program undermines American workers by offering cheaper labor to companies.
Ramaswamy shared his views on X, stating that U.S. culture undervalues excellence in science and engineering, contributing to a shortage of skilled professionals.
Musk, who once worked in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, echoed this, saying his companies rely on the program to fill critical roles due to a lack of qualified domestic candidates. He emphasized that hiring Americans is easier but insufficient to meet demand.
Far-right conservatives like Loomer claim expanding such visa programs conflicts with Trump’s immigration stance. Musk and Ramaswamy, however, argue that reforms wouldn’t weaken the visa program’s vetting process. Musk compared bringing in top foreign talent to recruiting elite athletes to improve a mostly American basketball team.
The controversy highlights a divide among conservatives. Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley also criticized Ramaswamy, arguing that American workers and culture should take precedence over foreign talent.
Trump himself has sent mixed signals. While he once suggested offering green cards to international graduates, his campaign later clarified that only the most skilled and thoroughly vetted individuals would qualify to ensure no negative impact on American wages or jobs.
