In a major shift in tone, U.S. President Donald Trump defended the H-1B visa program, acknowledging that the country needs foreign professionals to fill critical skill gaps in certain industries.

Speaking to Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday, Trump was asked if his administration planned to deprioritize H-1B visas. He responded, “You do have to bring in talent.” When Ingraham argued that America already had enough skilled workers, Trump countered firmly, “No, you don’t.”

He added, “You don’t have certain talents… And people have to learn, you can’t take people off an unemployment line and say, I’m going to put you into a factory. We’re going to make missiles.”

Trump’s comments mark a notable turnaround from his administration’s earlier stance on foreign work visas. In September, he imposed a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas and initiated a sweeping crackdown under a new enforcement drive dubbed “Project Firewall.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has since launched 175 investigations into alleged abuses of the visa system. “The Department of Labor is using every resource at our disposal to put a stop to H-1B abuse and protect American jobs,” said DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on X.

Meanwhile, several U.S. states have echoed concerns about the visa program. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently directed state universities to phase out H-1B positions, calling it “cheap labor” and urging local hiring.

Despite these actions, Trump’s latest remarks suggest a recognition of the economic importance of skilled foreign talent, particularly in technology, engineering, and healthcare sectors.

The White House has maintained that reforms to the H-1B program aim to put “American workers first,” though it faces multiple lawsuits, including one from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, challenging the legality of recent restrictions.

Lawmakers, too, have raised concerns. On October 31, five U.S. legislators urged Trump to reconsider his proclamation on H-1B visas, warning of its “negative impact” on India–U.S. relations.

India remains the largest beneficiary of the H-1B program, with over 70% of visas in 2024 granted to Indian nationals — a reflection of the country’s strong pool of skilled professionals in STEM fields.