WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington on November 19, reiterated his stance that foreign specialized labor is crucial for the revitalization of American manufacturing, a position that has put him at odds with some of his core supporters.
The President dedicated a significant portion of his address to explaining why foreign investors building factories in the United States—a result of his economic policies—must be allowed to bring in skilled workers from abroad.
Trump's position comes after a September incident where over 300 Korean workers at a battery factory construction site in Georgia were detained by immigration authorities. The President has since advocated for allowing foreign experts to enter the country to transfer manufacturing skills to American workers, causing a stir among the MAGA (Make America Great Again) base. This staunch pro-Trump constituency, many of whom voted for him based on his strong immigration policies, often oppose visa expansions, believing foreign workers displace American jobs.
Referencing the Georgia factory raid, Trump stated, "I said, 'Don't be foolish and do that,' and we got it worked out, and now they [the Korean workers] are teaching our people."
He further argued that "very complex factories," such as the TSMC semiconductor plant under construction in Arizona, require thousands of foreign specialists to build and operate. "I welcome those people," the President affirmed.
Seeking to placate his base, Trump declared, "I love my conservative friends, I love MAGA, but this [accepting foreign experts] is MAGA." He explained his rationale: "Those people are going to teach our people how to make computer chips, and in a short period of time, our people will be good at the job. And then those people can probably go back home, where they always wanted to go."
This assertion—that foreign workers will return home once the factories are operational—is interpreted as an attempt to quell the backlash.
Acknowledging the criticism, Trump remarked, "I may get a little bit of criticism for that. I always get a little criticism from my people. They love me, and I love them." He characterized some of his supporters as "far-right at times."
He concluded by stressing the economic necessity: "They are unbelievable patriots, they just don't understand," adding, "If we don't allow people who have invested billions of dollars in a factory and equipment to bring a lot of their people from their country to open it, to run it, to get it going, we won't succeed. Sorry."
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