Donald Trump is once again facing public backlash after making comments suggesting that Americans “aren’t talented enough” for certain jobs. The remarks came during an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, where the 79-year-old president discussed his administration’s position on H-1B visas—a program that allows highly skilled foreign workers to work in the United States.
During the conversation, Trump defended the need for immigrants in the American workforce, saying that certain jobs require skills many Americans don’t have. “You don’t have certain talents, and people have to learn,” he told Ingraham, implying that the U.S. needs to bring in skilled workers from abroad to fill critical positions.
Ingraham pushed back, arguing that America already has “plenty of talented citizens,” and questioned why the administration would want to bring in more foreign workers if it aimed to raise wages for Americans. Trump disagreed, saying that while Americans were capable, the kind of expertise needed in industries like advanced manufacturing and battery production couldn’t just be learned overnight.
He referenced an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid that took place at a Hyundai factory in Georgia earlier in the year, where undocumented workers were deported. According to Trump, many of those workers had been making batteries for years, and their removal left a gap that was difficult to fill. “It’s not an easy thing to do and very dangerous—lots of explosions, lots of problems,” Trump said. He noted that many of the skilled workers in that sector were originally from South Korea, brought in to teach specialized techniques.
Trump’s defense of the H-1B visa program and his comments about the lack of American talent immediately sparked anger among many of his supporters. Critics from his own MAGA base took to social media to express frustration, accusing him of betraying his “America First” stance. One supporter wrote, “Well, so much for America first. I’m never voting Republican again. There are plenty of talented Americans.” Another called Trump “an absolute disgrace of a president.”
Political figures also weighed in, including Anthony Sabatini, who accused Trump of putting donors and special interests ahead of the American people. “The administration is ready to crash and burn just to please donors,” he claimed.
The controversy highlights the delicate balance between Trump’s push for immigration restrictions and his acknowledgment of the role foreign workers play in maintaining industries that rely on specialized expertise. While his comments may have been intended to justify his visa policy, they have instead reignited a debate about whether his vision for the American workforce truly puts U.S. citizens first.
