Trump defends need for skilled immigrants in US, says ‘I’ll take the heat’ from MAGA base

US President Donald Trump has said he will welcome skilled foreign workers to the United States to help develop advanced manufacturing projects, even if the decision draws criticism from his supporters.

Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum on Wednesday, Trump said several new plants, including those making high-end products such as chips, telephones, and missiles, are being built across the country. He noted that these industries would require experienced professionals from abroad to train American workers in specialized production techniques.

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“And I may take a little heat. I always take a little heat from my people, the people that love me and the people that I love,” Trump said during the event, which was also attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump emphasized that companies investing billions in new factories must be allowed to bring skilled workers to get their operations running smoothly. “They're going to have to bring thousands of people with them, and I'm going to welcome those people,” he said.

He added that the United States must learn from these workers before achieving self-sufficiency in advanced manufacturing. “We’re not going to be successful if we don’t allow people that invest billions of dollars in plants and equipment to bring a lot of their people from their country to get that plant open, operating and working,” Trump said, drawing applause from the audience.

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Citing the Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, where authorities detained several foreign workers in a recent immigration raid, Trump said the company had invested heavily and required skilled professionals to operate safely. “They brought in, they spent a billion dollars to build a factory, and they were told to get out. And I said, ‘Stop it. Don’t be stupid.’ And we worked it out, and now they’re teaching our people how to do it,” he said.

Trump noted that the US currently lacks certain technical skills and that visa programmes such as H-1B and L1 are essential for industries that rely on expertise from abroad. His administration, however, has maintained a strong stance against illegal immigration and abuse of the visa system.

Defending his position in a recent television interview, Trump said that the US must bring in global talent in specific fields. “You can’t take people off an unemployment line and say, ‘I’m going to put you into a factory, we’re going to make missiles,’” he said.

Reiterating his commitment to his supporters, Trump said this policy aligns with his “Make America Great Again” vision. “I love MAGA, but this is MAGA,” he said. “For those of you that are doing the plants, you’re going to have all the help you need, and you’re going to teach our people how to do it.”