Former President Trump’s Company Applies for H-1B Visa Despite Previous Criticism

Former President Trump’s Company Applies for Visa Program He Sought to Restrict

The Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, founded by former US President Donald Trump, recently applied for an H-1B visa for a worker at a $65,000 annual salary, the lowest wage category allowed under the program. This move is in conflict with Trump’s previous stance on restricting the visa program, which he proposed during his administration and which many of his allies want him to curtail in a potential second term.

Despite the application being filed under prior management, the current CEO, Devin Nunes, swiftly terminated the process upon learning about it. The company stated that they have no plans to hire an H-1B visa worker. The H-1B visa program is commonly used by tech companies to hire skilled employees.

Trump’s policy proposals while in office included curbs on legal immigration, such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program. However, his companies had not petitioned for H-1B visas until the creation of Truth Social. The application filed by Kushner’s investment firm, which was also approved for a visa, specified a $200,000 salary for the foreign employee, falling under the highest wage level for H-1B visas.

Criticism of the H-1B program often revolves around companies offering lower salaries to foreign workers. The Labor Department certified Kushner’s investment firm’s document, ensuring that the employee would be paid a competitive salary. Kushner, who has not joined the Trump campaign, has been pursuing his own business interests.

The H-1B visa program has been beneficial for small companies in the professional, scientific, and technical services fields, allowing them to stay in business by hiring skilled labor. Companies applying for H-1B visas must attest to providing foreign workers with the same benefits as US workers and paying competitive wages.

Overall, the application by Trump’s company for an H-1B visa highlights the complexities and contradictions in his approach to immigration policies, both as a candidate and a businessman.