US President Donald Trump on Friday announced sweeping changes to the H-1B visa programme, signing a proclamation that imposes a one-time fee of $100,000 for all new applications. During a White House press conference unveiling the changes, he also called out a reporter over her accent.
Exchange with reporter
In footage released on the official White House YouTube channel, a journalist is heard asking Trump whether Big Tech companies were on board with the new $100,000 H-1B fee.
“Are the Big Techs on board with this, Mr President?” the reporter asked.
Trump responded: “What? What’s going to? I wish you would speak more clearly. Give it to me again.”
When the reporter repeated her question: “Are the Big Tech CEOs on board with this decision?”, Trump misheard it as “Big Tax.” He was then informed that she had said “Big Tech,” not “Big Tax.”
This is not the first such incident. In February, Trump had told another reporter that he “can’t understand a word” due to their accent while fielding a question on anti-India activities in the US.
H-1B policy changes
The administration’s new rules include a $100,000 fee on skilled worker visas, which the White House later clarified would apply only to new applicants, not current visa holders.
The announcement was accompanied by the launch of a $1 million “gold card” residency programme, an initiative Trump had previewed earlier. Analysts said the sharp fee increase could face legal challenges and have significant implications for the tech industry, which relies heavily on H-1B workers.
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