Scott Bessent on Trump’s H-1B overhaul: ‘Train US workers, then go home’

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during a recent interaction, outlined US President Donald Trump’s new approach to the H-1B visa policy, saying it aims to attract skilled foreign professionals to the US on a temporary basis rather than displace American workers.

Speaking to Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Bessent described the policy as a “knowledge transfer” effort intended to restore America’s manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductor sectors that have suffered from decades of offshoring.

“Train the US workers. Then go home. Then the US workers fully take over,” Bessent said on the job of skilled workers from abroad.

When questioned about fears that foreign workers might take jobs from Americans, Bessent strongly dismissed the concern. “An American can’t have that job,” he said. “We haven’t built ships or semiconductors here for years. This idea of overseas partners coming in, teaching American workers then returning home -- that’s a home run.”

His remarks came as Trump said the country needed skilled workers, even as his administration has tightened visa rules that make it harder for organisations seeking such workers.

In an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham aired Tuesday, Trump was asked whether H-1B visas would remain a priority, with Ingraham arguing that the program could conflict with his push to raise domestic wages.

“You also do have to bring in talent,” Trump said.

When Ingraham said the US already had “plenty of talented people here,” Trump responded saying “no, you don’t.”

“You don’t have certain talents. And you have to, people have to learn. You can’t take people off, like an unemployment line, and say, ‘I’m going to put you into a factory. We’re going to make missiles,’” he said.