Scott Bessent doubles down on Trump's H-1B remarks, but there's a catch: 'Come to US, train workers, then go home'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday explained President Donald Trump’s new approach to the H-1B visa programme, saying it is designed to bring skilled foreign workers to the United States temporarily — not to replace American jobs.Bessent told Fox News that Trump’s plan of bringing in skilled foreign workers focuses on knowledge transfer rather than long-term dependency on overseas labour. “Train the US workers. Then, they can go home. Then, the US workers fully take over,” he said about the job of skilled workers from abroad. Bessent said that the system will ensure Americans gain the expertise to sustain key industries on their own.

When host Brian Kilmeade asked about growing public concern and MAGA backlash over Trump's new stance, Bessent defended it as an essential step in rebuilding the country’s industrial base.

“We haven’t built ships, semiconductors for years in the US. Overseas partners come in, teach American workers? That’s a home-run,” he said.Trump himself said in a Fox News interview that the US urgently needs foreign talent in specialised sectors such as manufacturing and defence. When asked about prioritising H‑1B visas, Trump said that the US lacks sufficient talent and needs skilled workers from abroad, including students, especially for America’s tech sector and universities.

He made the remarks in a Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham. “There are certain skills you don’t have, and people have to learn them.”When the MAGA chief was asked if America already has enough talent, he disagreed without hesitation, a comment that did not sit well with the GOP base.The president added that industries investing billions in advanced technology cannot rely solely on long-term unemployed workers. His comments follow the administration’s September move to introduce a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications.