President-elect Trump selected venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan to help advise artificial intelligence policy in the Trump administration. The pick kicked off a debate over the holidays about immigration and H-1B visas, which Krishnan voiced support for in the past, and exposed a rift in Trump’s MAGA coalition.

The H-1B program allows American companies to employ highly specialized foreign workers in specialty occupations for up to six years. H-1B visas are prevalent in states with thriving tech and pharmaceutical industries. Elon Musk, who once had a H-1B visa, and Vivek Ramaswamy voiced support for the program, arguing that it allows American companies to hire the best workers. Political activist Laura Loomer, Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon, and Trump’s pick for deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, came out against the visas, arguing they devalue American workers.

Trump criticized the program in 2016, but on Saturday he told the New York Post (Lean Right bias), “I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program.”

Voices on the left said Trump sided with Musk, the world’s richest man, over his policy advisor Stephen Miller, indicating Musk’s influence. Voices on the right were divided. Some argued Musk and Trump were right about the visas, while others thought it harmed American workers. Some thought the debate was healthy, while others said it was a distraction from curbing unauthorized immigration.

Writers in the Los Angeles Times (Lean Left bias) said California is by far the biggest user of H-1B visas, and no one is “cozying up” to Trump faster than executives at California’s Meta and Google. “Despite his record and promises to seal the borders and deport millions of undocumented immigrants, Trump’s remarks raised hopes among some immigration advocates that the incoming president could take a softer tack on H-1B visas,” they added. 

A Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) columnist argued that Elon Musk is right. “U.S. policy should open the door wide to the well-educated and skilled and close tight the door to illegal immigrants. The H-1B program is good, and an open border is bad.” Noting, “People who come to the U.S. on H-1B visas strengthen the U.S. economy.”

In USA Today (Lean Left bias), a writer said Trump touts “how he alone can save them from the scourge of scary immigrants and elitists. But when a couple of elite billionaires go off on his base and effectively call them a bunch of non-skilled, racist dopes…Trump sided with Musk and the tech bros this weekend because they gave him lots of money.”

The New York Post Editorial Board (Right bias) added, “Politically, neither the American people nor Congress will accept any special immigration law favors for Big Tech, business generally and any other particular faction until the big picture is fully under control.”