President Donald Trump on Wednesday slammed big American tech firms for shifting manufacturing to China and hiring workers from India while speaking at the AI Summit in Washington D.C.
“Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and slashing profits in Ireland, you know that,” Trump said. He stated such practice will not be tolerated, saying, “All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home. Under President Trump, those days are over.”
His comments came as he signed off on three executive orders focused on strengthening the U.S. artificial intelligence sector. One of them is a broad White House strategy called the America’s AI Action Plan that lays out steps to keep the U.S. ahead in the global AI race.
READ: America first or left behind? US, under Trump, embraces economic isolation (
Trump called on homegrown tech giants like Google and Microsoft to take a more patriotic route in how they run their businesses, pushing for what he described as an “America First” approach that better serves national priorities. “We need U.S. technology companies to be all in for America. We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That’s all we ask,” PTI quoted Trump as saying. “A new spirit of patriotism and national loyalty in Silicon Valley and long beyond Silicon Valley,” Trump added.
So far, Trump hasn’t introduced any official policy specifically aimed at how U.S. tech companies hire skilled professionals from India. However, back in 2020, during his first term, Trump signed an executive order that blocked H-1B visa holders from working on federal contracts, a move that sent a clear message about prioritizing American workers, especially in government projects. That move earlier shook things up, prompting a lot of tech companies to take a fresh look at how they handled federally funded projects. But ever since Trump stepped back into the political spotlight, he hasn’t actually rolled out any new executive orders or formal policies in that direction.
READ: G7’s last stand: Trump’s chance to unleash America’s job creators (June
Lately, though he’s been vocal about Americans first message, criticizing companies for outsourcing work or hiring talent overseas, including from India. Still, it’s been mostly through talk, pushing the idea that firms should prioritize American workers and align with broader national goals, even in AI.
Further emphasizing on AI development and highlighting America’s contribution, Trump said, “America is the country that started the AI race, and as president of the United States, I’m here today to declare that America is going to win it.”
“Winning this competition will be a test of our capacities unlike anything since the dawn of the space age,” Trump added.