By WILL WEISSERT
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has made hardline immigration insurance policies a signature subject, however acknowledged on Wednesday that he’s been criticized for lately saying some expert immigrants must be allowed into the nation from his “Make America Nice Once more” supporters.
Trump advised an viewers of enterprise executives that the U.S. wants immigrants who can prepare home employees in high-tech factories — and insisted that doing so is just not inconsistent together with his core political opinions.
“I really like my conservative buddies. I really like MAGA. However that is MAGA,” Trump stated throughout an handle to the U.S.-Saudi Funding Discussion board, which he attended with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “These persons are going to show our folks methods to make laptop chips, and in a brief time period, our persons are going to be doing nice. And people folks can go dwelling.”
The feedback drew applause within the room. However final week, Trump sparred with Fox Information host Laura Ingraham over the identical subject. Ingraham recommended throughout an interview with Trump that “you possibly can’t flood the nation with tens of 1000’s, or lots of of 1000’s, of overseas employees,” solely to have the president reply, “You additionally do have to herald expertise.”
When Ingraham stated that the U.S. had “loads of proficient folks right here,” Trump stated, “No, you don’t,” and added that “folks need to be taught.”
The alternate drew swift and sharp on-line criticism from some corners of the MAGA motion, who’ve opposed increasing H-1B visas, and different packages designed to let expert immigrants into the nation.
That didn’t cease Trump from doubling down on Wednesday, including that his detractors are “actually, actually good” regardless of their opposition to expert immigration. “They’re unbelievable patriots,” Trump stated. “However they only don’t perceive our folks have to be taught.”
Trump stated that relating to “extraordinarily advanced” home crops making issues like computer systems, cell telephones and missiles, it wasn’t attainable to “suppose you possibly can rent folks off an unemployment line to run it.”
International house owners constructing the crops within the U.S. are “going to need to convey 1000’s of individuals with them, and I’m going to welcome these folks,” Trump stated.
As proof, the president pointed to the case of lots of of South Korean nationals who had been detained and left the U.S. following a September immigration raid at Hyundai’s electrical car manufacturing web site in Georgia. Some have now returned and are again at their jobs.
Trump stated the employees had been ordered to “get out,” however that “I stated, ‘Cease it. Don’t be silly.’”
