The arguments circling H-1B

Jon Herold, Christ Paul and patrick Gunnels did a thorough hash up of the H-1B policy on yesterday’s DEVOLUTION podcast. Are Trump, Elon, and Vivek involved in a deliberate psyop to ultimately educate the America public about H-1B and voice their choice?

Here’s what the New York Post wrote (be sure to read the comments.):

Exclusive | Donald Trump backs H-1B visa program supported by Elon Mu…

Trump supports immigration visas backed by Musk: ‘I have many H-1B visas on my properties’

Published Dec. 28, 2024, 1:56 p.m. ET

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. 

MAGA hardliners want Trump to follow through with his promise to promote US workers and impose tougher restrictions on immigration. 

Trump’s Saturday comments come a day after Musk vowed to go to “war” on the issue, telling one mocking opponent to go “f–k yourself.” 

The flare-up happened after X user Steven Mackey jabbed the billionaire’s defense of the program by using the billionaire’s own words against him. 

“Stop trying to optimize something that shouldn’t exist,” a line often used by Musk, Mackey wrote. “Let’s optimize H-1B,” he sarcastically added. 

Musk fired back: “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 F–K YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added, paragraphing a memorable line from the 2008 comedy “Tropic Thunder.”

The tech billionaire has been criticized by MAGA diehards including Laura Loomer and Ann Coulter — who say the H-1B visa program has been abused and needs to be sharply curtailed.

And influential voices around Trump have publicly begun turning on Musk as well.

“Someone please notify ‘Child Protective Services’— need to do a ‘wellness check’ on this toddler,” former White House Counselor Steve Bannon jeered at the X boss in a Saturday post to his account on Gettr. 

Musk said his passion for the issue stemmed from wanting America to remain competitive by attracting “the top ~0.1% of engineering talent” which he said was essential for “America to keep winning.”

What do you think? Post a comment.

Vivek Ramaswamy, who is slated to run the Department of Government Efficiency with Musk, backed Musk and offered a critique of American society.

 “American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence,” Ramaswamy wrote on X.

Share your stance. Please adhere to our guidelines.

• Come on Trump don’t sell us out. This is just a different version of the Great Replacement EDIT: I have seen and met a number of these “top 0.1%” of STEM workers from other parts of the globe. None of them are better than the people we already have here (more than 300 million people) and it’s usually hard to understand them. Let’s focus on America now and give our people leg up first before even considering giving a bunch of foreign savants jobs here(Edited)
  • If you want American companies to have products and services that continue to get better and more advanced than we need H1B STEM focused foreigners to help because as someone who hires in IT I can tell you there are certain skill sets that Americans just don’t do on a scale that fills all the needs that American companies have. If you are completely against H1-B holders than you need to be totally fine with our advancement in society to go on a standstill until enough people are trained in America. Could be a few years.
    • That’s exactly what I want. What do you think America First means? We’ve been screwing ourselves for the last 25+ years and now we have to sit in the bench and fix it or we’re gonna lose our national identity
  • Really? Can you find me application engineers that are willing to work and learn? Because I have an incredibly hard time finding young people with the skills and work ethic to hire. And believe me…I interview many Americans.
    • I hire developers and other roles as well. The goal of keeping these visas isn’t for strictly quality, visa employees get paid significantly less. So, these guys want to kick the low skills workers which increases costs on most things for people in agriculture and services while paying less for labor by importing people in for their own profit. 
    • You think it’ll be easier to outsource to the other side of the globe? It’ll be way more expensive when you start sponsoring visas trust me. Also, you need to start looking harder. There are plenty of young people who don’t have much experience but a great degree and a willingness to learn right of college who get passed over because they don’t have enough experience. This is a shame. When I started, I had to apply for about 6 months before I got a job that matched my degree. It’s even worse now. I’m not saying Gen Z is perfect by any means but “people are a resource” and they need to be invested in. Hiring in America is too selective, and not enough companies are willing to invest in American kids and train them out of college.
  • “I’ve always liked visas” hahahahahahahahahahaha
• So this is not America first????
  • Trump has said he believes in immigration when the person has something and skills to help MAGA. The 20 million invaders the Democrats let in are all on Social Services and take from American citizens. If someone from another country like Musk comes to US, it’s good for America.
  • Would you hire someone who wants 1 million a year to start and only can show up with their mommy for an interview. They will require their service animal and free lunch to even show up.
    • Thank you! Because that is what I deal with every day. 
  • Unfortunately, the good suffers with the bad. Saddle up, the ride is only going to get double worst.
• Meanwhile there so many recent college grads who can’t find a job. Way to go elon trump.
  • Meanwhile liberals are STILL in denial.
    • Nope. As a Republican, Dems are just going to laugh 😂 at how magaz will suffer soon as many already are regretting the vote on what’s ahead: -Broken promises 2025-2026-2027 -Highest fuel in due course .” -So many faux promises, all lies & more. 21 or more Republican economist agree it shall be more worse, than any other yep 👍🏼 -Their Healthcareis going to dissipate .” -Higher groceries soon during Trump-Flation This is going to be fun to watch. & No need responding, I rarely read or respond over here.” (Edited)
  • Perfectly stated sad but true, yep.” All with mostly over 35-50k or more debt,”
  • Maybe if this Country were to focus on education, and work ethic, rather than sports, gaming, boozing and frat houses, we’d be producing better qualified applicants. Warming a seat for four years, doesn’t make someone hungry for a career.
• Thought Trump was for the American worker?? Did I miss something
  • If we have people that can fulfill these positions for a ‘normal’ starting salary and benefits, show up to work (and ready to work), and don’t have an attitude, then I hire them. Fix our damn education (and work ethic) culture and then we won’t need to hire H1B applicants.
  • Do you like leafblowing & mowing lawns? I don’t 
• Liberals run American colleges and universities.If they’re unable to produce skilled, intelligent Americsn workers for these companies, take a look in the mirror, libs
• H1-b requires specialty skills. I’d like to know what specialty skills are required at Trump properties. He already has someone to deliver the diet cokes.
  • Don’t forget the burgers 🍔 and a side of French Fries 🍟 with it too, lol.(Edited)
• This is sensible. Immigrants who are skilled, hardworking, law-abiding should be granted a path as they are making our country better. Those who are living on the dole in shelters, or who have committed crimes . . . ship ’em out!
  • Highly skilled and intelligent immigrants are far, far less likely to be perps of violence and crime like what we see now.
• Shutdown Trump! America First!
• Trump, Musk and Vivek have no idea how ignorant some of his supporters are. This is going to be funny to watch.(Edited)
  • Thanks for posting your own ignorance (Edited)
• You have a trade or skill that we NEED , then “Welcome to America” with the provision that you’re not bringing relatives , provide proof of where you are living at all times , leave on or before the visa expires , follow all laws, pay your taxes and go to church every Sunday. (Edited)
  • Couldn’t be said better. Wonder what the edited portion said. Why don’t you reply to me and use hyphenated or misspelled words. 
• Highly skilled H1-B engineers in STEM is totally fine. If Americans cared about math and science more we wouldn’t need to import foreigners to fill job openings. Too many Americans want the “creative” and fun jobs but we are now short highly skilled technical people to do the jobs required to keep society invovating for a better future. This is all coming from someone who hires in tech and can confirm we are short certain skills like wireless engineering, ERP or servicenow like platforms that pay extremely well due to the shortage. 
• People who bring valuable skills to the table are always welcome. 
• Haha 😆😂🤣. This is what all you MAGA voters voted for. “Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands.”
  • You’re so right Gabi, 😂👍🏼 oh! & Just “ ignore Barry” he msgs so no common sense ya know.” 
• Clear to all astute minds that Elon bought him as Putin.” Elon in charge. Should be fun to watch.” 😊I’m chuckling at President felon – When he is the very 1st criminally American 35 felonies President sworn in.”😂 Orange 🍊 still trying to have it tossed out “ before 01/2025 smh 🤦‍♀️ Best part? He hates it so much everyday.” Elon definitely is also running it all.” Ready for all prices, groceries, fuel ⛽️2025 and very high Trump-Flation to be the highest ever.” (Edited)
  • Trump is your next President 
  • Another wave of tears please 🏄‍♂️
• As long as changes are made to rein in abuse of the program it’s fine but a lot of people come in and take the jobs that Americans can do. A well regulated immigration process is needed now 
• The gall and nerve of Musk must be reigned in NOW. Space X is not only based on technology invented by Americans (ever heard of NASA) but space X is also funded by American taxpayers. Tesla is named after Nikola Tesla for a reason. President Trump: we voted for you. We did not vote for Musk or Ramaswamy to run this country. (Edited)
• hostiliscivitas undefinedRepeal the 1965 Immigration Act
• Now we are believing the Bible NEVER lies. Elon Musk is an evil being. He needs to go back to South Africa 🇿🇦 (Edited)
• Lol. Trump’s H-1B visa he’s talking about is Melania on his many properties. He brought her and her parents in on the genius visa.Edit…My error. The H-B1 is a temporary visa. The E-B1, which Melania and her parents got from Trump is a permanent visa. “Nicknamed the “Einstein Visa”, the E-B1 is in theory reserved for people who are highly acclaimed in their field – the government cites Pulitzer, Oscar, and Olympic winners as examples – as well as respected academic researchers and multinational executives.” Not bad for a communist family from Slovenia, eh? Dad worked for the party in Slovenia. (Edited)
• In the 30’s and 40’s some of the best and the brightest in science and the arts left Europe to come to America. The result was that America developed the nuclear bomb first…and Hollywood was enriched with some of the most brilliant musicians and directors. America should always want to attract the best and the brightest. To not do so means to become a weakened nation. 
• Haha all you clowns really elected musk, pretty obvious he controls your cult leader Trump 
• Smart, motivated foreigners vs dumb, lazy Americans? Maga has a problem with that?
• Work visas and student visas help the USA. These are self sufficient people that we get to choose not the desperately poor illegals that are only a burden on the USA.
• We should only invite those who will bring something of value into our country No more taking in the world’s trash
• We don’t need the foreign workers skilled or not.
  • Don’t be ridiculous. We need the best because the best doctors and researchers will cure cancer. We want the brilliant ones on our team. In sports terms we want all the Michael Jordons we can find, no matter what country they come from. 
• I must say that I disagree with Trump and Musk on this. I think US companies must be required to prove serious deliberate and lengthy attempt to recruit domestically before an authorization for foreign recruitment is granted.
• The shadow presidency is no longer in the shadows…Trump is the yes man