Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, recently spoke about the value Indian talent has brought to the United States over the years. His comments follow an ongoing debate around the H-1B visa program and immigration policies in the U.S.
Speaking on the “People by WTF” podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Musk acknowledged misuse of the H-1B program, particularly by some outsourcing companies. However, he emphasized that the system should not be shut down but rather improved to prevent exploitation.
Musk noted that there’s a persistent need for skilled professionals in the U.S., stating that there’s always a shortage of talented individuals. He dismissed concerns that the H-1B program takes away American jobs, saying that attracting top global talent benefits the entire country.
The H-1B visa, established in 1990, has largely helped professionals from countries like India and China build careers in the U.S. However, recent fee hikes under former President Donald Trump’s administration have raised concerns, especially among Indian applicants.
Musk, once considered close to Trump, explained that certain immigration restrictions stemmed from attempts to curb misuse rather than to block talent migration. He concluded that the U.S. should remain open to skilled international workers who contribute significantly to innovation and economic growth.
