Trump's H-1B Support Divides MAGA Coalition and Tech Allies

President-elect Trump’s endorsement of skilled immigration, including H-1B visas, has ignited tensions between his nationalist base and Silicon Valley supporters.

President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Indian-born venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as AI policy adviser has fueled a divisive debate within his coalition over immigration policy.
The H-1B visa program, which allows skilled foreign workers to temporarily work in the U.S., has come under scrutiny, with nationalists opposing it and tech leaders like Elon Musk defending it as essential for economic competitiveness.
Indian nationals, who account for the majority of H-1B recipients, have been targeted in the backlash, reflecting broader tensions over their prominence in U.S. tech and business sectors.
Trump’s support for H-1B visas marks a shift from his earlier immigration policies, highlighting a growing embrace of merit-based immigration within parts of the Republican Party.
The debate underscores the Bay Area’s reliance on H-1B workers, who are highly educated and employed directly by tech companies, contrasting with criticisms of visa misuse by outsourcing firms elsewhere.

San Francisco Chronicle

Washington Post

South China Morning Post