Trump backs competent foreign talent, says 'H-1B system lets the best people in'

US President Donald Trump expressed his nuanced stance on the H-1B visa program during a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, stating he supports welcoming skilled professionals into the country while acknowledging the concerns of critics who argue the program affects American jobs.

"I like both sides of the argument," Trump said. "But I also like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping other people that may not have the qualifications they do. I don't want to stop — and I'm not just talking about engineers, I'm talking about people at all levels."

The president made these remarks during a joint press conference attended by Oracle CTO Larry Ellison, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The event shed light on the ongoing debate within his support base over the merits and drawbacks of the H-1B visa program, which facilitates the entry of foreign workers into the US labor market.

While high-profile figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk advocate for the program, citing its role in bringing qualified talent to the tech industry, critics contend that it displaces American workers.

Trump emphasized the importance of attracting top-tier talent to bolster US businesses. "We want competent people coming into our country. And H-1B, I know the program very well. I use the program. Maitre d', wine experts, even waiters, high-quality waiters — you've got to get the best people," he said.

Referring to industry leaders present at the event, Trump added, "People like Larry, he needs engineers. Masa also needs... they need engineers like nobody's ever needed them."

The president highlighted that by bringing skilled professionals into the US, businesses can expand, which he believes would ultimately benefit the economy as a whole. "What I really do feel is that we have to let really competent people, great people, come into our country. And we do that through the H-1B program," he concluded.

Trump's remarks signal his attempt to balance the interests of industries reliant on skilled foreign labor with the concerns of constituents advocating for prioritizing American jobs.