President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on the H-1B visa program have reignited debate across social media, with users arguing that the United States is independent and talented enough to rely on its own workforce rather than depending on foreign talent. The comments have set off a wave of discussion over whether easing visa restrictions aligns with Trump’s long-standing “America First” stance.
One of the users on X, wrote, “America landed on the moon 20 years before the H1B program even existed. Don’t give me this bullshit about America not having enough ‘talent.’ Abolish the H1B program and invest in American youth, not foreigners.”
Resharing this post, another user dropped certain data, “You mean the Moon landing was designed by a German, guided by Australians & Spaniards, & coded by Indians & immigrant engineers? America’s been powered by foreign talent long before H-1Bs existed.”
READ: Dinesh D’Souza backs Trump amid MAGA uproar over H-1B comments (
The user added, “Here is the list of global talent which helped built Apollo –
Joe Mehta – SIMCOM code, INDIAN
Wernher von Braun – Saturn V, German
Kurt Debus – Launch ops, German
Eberhard Rees – Saturn V assembly, German
John Houbolt – LOR concept, American
George Mueller – All-up testing, American
Miguel Rodríguez – Crew training, Cuban
Eugene Cernan – Moon walker, Slovak
Now COPE”
The exchange quickly drew thousands of reactions, highlighting a deep divide over America’s dependence on global talent. While some users echoed the sentiment that the country should focus on nurturing its own skilled professionals, others pointed out that the foundation of U.S. innovation has long relied on contributions from immigrants.
Many emphasized that landmark achievements from space exploration to Silicon Valley’s tech boom were built through international collaboration. The debate underscored how Trump’s remarks have reignited broader questions about the balance between protecting domestic jobs and maintaining America’s status as a magnet for global expertise.
Meanwhile, Ben Shapiro weighed in on the debate, defending the H-1B visa program as vital to maintaining America’s technological edge. In a post on X, he pointed to gaps in U.S. education, particularly in STEM fields, and cited figures like Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Satya Nadella as examples of how immigrant talent drives innovation and keeps high-tech jobs within the country.
His remarks drew sharp backlash from the MAGA wing, which accused him of siding with corporate interests at the expense of American workers. Supporters, however, argued that such programs are essential for economic growth and global competitiveness, reflecting widening rifts within conservative circles as Trump signals potential reforms to skilled immigration.
One of the users countered this, saying, “If the immigration is so high-skilled, why are their nations of origin (India and China) not desperate to retain it? Wouldn’t they surpass America as the global superpower if they were such a reservoir of entrepreneurship and expertise?”
He added, “H-1Bs are exploited, the immigration is not high-skilled, and these immigrants will not reproduce our civilization by practicing their culture, out of habit or spite, in America.”
While another wrote, Daniel Di Martino shared a graphical data, “You should be aware that Indians in the U.S. have one of the lowest crime rates of any group, far below non-Hispanic whites. Chinese, too.”
READ: Trump administration revokes 80,000 visas in immigration crackdown (
Reflecting on the backslash, one of the users wrote, “All the H-1B Visa program does is circumvent the desperate need for educational reform in America.”
Even some users defended the H-1B visa claim, “I’ve tried to explain this very point that Ben Shapiro is making about H-1B Visas but I’m convinced people are too stupid to grasp these simple concepts. It’s not an unwillingness. It’s just pure stupidity.”
The back-and-forth has laid bare a growing divide within conservative ranks over the future of America’s immigration and labor policies. On one side are those who see the H-1B program as undermining U.S. workers by keeping wages low and outsourcing opportunities. On the other are conservatives who argue that restricting skilled immigration could stifle innovation, push companies overseas, and weaken America’s leadership in technology.
This widening rift reflects a deeper ideological struggle between economic nationalism and global competitiveness, an issue that’s likely to intensify as Trump’s stance on H-1B visa shapes with time.