Special Poll
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two prominent figures in the tech industry, are defending Silicon Valley’s practice of hiring foreign-born engineers. This comes as the incoming Trump administration plans to take a hard stance on immigration.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy argue that the United States faces a significant shortage of highly skilled engineers, making it necessary to look outside the country for talent. Musk emphasized the shortage, pointing out that the number of highly motivated and talented engineers in the U.S. is simply too low. He clarified that while he would prefer to hire Americans—citing the complex and slow work visa process as a hurdle—it is difficult to find engineers with the necessary skill sets and drive within the U.S.
Ramaswamy echoed Musk’s concerns, suggesting that the issue is not a matter of intelligence, but rather a cultural one. He criticized the American culture for valuing mediocrity over excellence, pointing out that since the 1990s, there has been a tendency to celebrate popularity and athletic achievement over academic and technical excellence. He argued that this shift in cultural priorities has impacted the competitiveness of U.S.-born candidates in fields like engineering.
The debate around foreign-born hires has gained attention after Sriram Krishnan, a policy advisor for artificial intelligence in the Trump administration, suggested that removing caps on green cards for skilled immigrants could help address the talent gap. This idea was met with backlash from some, including far-right activists who argue that it could displace American workers in STEM fields.
However, conservative tech leaders such as David Sacks and Joe Lonsdale defended Krishnan’s stance. They emphasized that Krishnan advocates for a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes highly skilled immigrants, rather than unlimited immigration. Lonsdale, in particular, stressed that the U.S. needs to attract the best and brightest to maintain its high standard of living and strong military, distinguishing between highly skilled workers and low-skilled labor.
As the U.S. faces significant discussions about immigration policy under Trump, both Musk and Ramaswamy have expressed support for the administration’s tougher stance, despite advocating for foreign-born engineers to help fill critical gaps in Silicon Valley.