President Donald Trump reignited debate over America’s skilled-worker gap on Wednesday as he openly defended the need for foreign talent—despite pushback from his conservative base. Speaking at the US–Saudi Investment Forum, Trump argued that overseas expertise is vital for building critical industries, insisting that foreign skilled workers are essential to “teach our people” how to manufacture “computer chips and other things.”

His remarks come even as his administration continues tightening H-1B visa regulations, a contrast that has left many MAGA supporters questioning whether he is drifting from his long-standing “America First” agenda. However, the shift is likely to be welcomed by Indian professionals, who represent the largest share of America’s high-skilled immigrant workforce.

Addressing the criticism head-on, Trump explained why foreign labour remains central to his strategy. “You can’t come in, open a massive computer chip factory for billions and billions of dollars like is being done in Arizona, and think you are gonna hire people off an unemployment line to run it. They are gonna have to bring thousands of people with them, and I’m gonna welcome those people,” he said.

The forum gathered top American and Saudi business leaders, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, highlighting the scale of investment the administration aims to attract into the US semiconductor supply chain.

Expanding on earlier comments about the nation’s shortage of specific technical skills, Trump said foreign workers would be crucial in bridging these gaps. “We are allowing you, if you have to bring people to get those plants open, we want you to do that. We want those people to teach our people—how to make computer chips and how to make other things.”

While continuing to maintain a tough stance on illegal immigration, Trump acknowledged that this position on skilled visas could anger parts of his base. “I may take a little heat. I always take a little heat from my people… I love my conservative friends. I love MAGA. But this is MAGA, and those people are going to teach our people how to make computer chips.”