Trump Defies MAGA Critics, Backs Skilled Foreign Workers

Trump said the U.S. must admit skilled foreign workers for factories, defending the need for specialized labor to launch complex manufacturing plants even as some MAGA allies accuse him of going soft on immigration.

What Happened

Speaking in Washington on November 19, 2025, at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Donald Trump argued that foreign experts are needed to help stand up high-tech plants and train American workers. He said the approach is consistent with his movement, telling supporters, “I love MAGA … but this is MAGA.”

Trump pointed to semiconductor and other advanced factories as examples, saying companies cannot “hire people off an unemployment line” to run “extremely complex” operations. He cited TSMC’s Arizona chip plant as an example of the kinds of projects that may initially need veteran specialists before U.S. workers take over.

Why It Matters

The comments underscore a tension between hardline immigration rhetoric and the workforce realities of America’s industrial push. Semiconductor, EV and precision-manufacturing projects are racing ahead, but employers say the skills to launch and ramp them are in short supply. Trump’s stance signals that, at least for startup phases, foreign engineers and technicians could be welcomed to accelerate timelines and transfer know-how.

For U.S. workers, Trump framed the policy as a bridge, not a replacement strategy: foreign specialists help open the plants, train local hires, and then depart. Supporters in business say that faster launches mean more domestic jobs sooner, while skeptics warn that expanded pipelines for skilled visas could undercut wages or become permanent. He acknowledged backlash from MAGA commentators and allies who oppose increasing admissions for high-skill roles.

Background And Blowback

Trump’s remarks followed a sharp exchange last week with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, when he rejected the idea that the U.S. already has all the talent needed and insisted, “people have to learn.” The criticism from parts of the conservative base has continued, especially around the H‑1B visa program and questions about safeguards for American workers.

Trump also referenced enforcement flashpoints, including September detentions of South Korean nationals linked to Hyundai’s EV plant in Georgia, noting that some have since returned to work after scrutiny of their status. Some South Korean Hyundai workers returned after a September raid, he said, using the episode to argue for pragmatism during factory start-ups.

What’s Next

The administration has not detailed a new, specific visa route tailored to industrial ramp‑ups, leaving policy design—and guardrails—an open question. Watch for whether the White House or Congress proposes time-limited permissions tied to training outcomes, as well as any changes to costs, caps or compliance checks. The political test will be whether Trump can keep business support for rapid industrial buildouts while calming concerns inside his own movement.

Sources

• Trump Says US Must Allow Skilled Foreigners Despite MAGA Uproar — Bloomberg (November 19, 2025)
• Trump says allowing skilled immigrants to train US workers 'is MAGA' — Associated Press (November 19, 2025)
• Opposing MAGA critics, Trump says he will 'welcome' foreign workers — Washington Post (November 19, 2025)