Tesla CEO Elon Musk has acknowledged the substantial contributions of Indian professionals in the United States. Speaking on Nikhil Kamath’s “WTF is” podcast, Musk stated that the US has “benefited immensely” from Indian talent, especially engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs, who have helped shape the country’s technology and business sectors. He emphasized that their contributions remain pivotal across many industries.
Musk highlighted the importance of the H-1B visa program for the US economy but noted that some companies abuse the system. He clarified that the issue lies in the misuse of the program, not the program itself. “We need to stop the gaming of the system,” he noted, cautioning against shutting down the program, which would be detrimental to the US economy.
Musk also touched on immigration policies, criticizing the former administration’s suggestion to raise H-1B application fees and the current administration’s handling of border controls. He argued that concerns about immigrants taking local jobs are unfounded, as his companies still face difficulties finding highly skilled professionals, making global talent essential.
Discussing broader economic issues, Musk warned about the US’s “insanely high” national debt and the growing burden of interest payments. According to him, large-scale AI and robotics might be the only solution to the country’s debt problems.
Finally, Musk encouraged Indian entrepreneurs to focus on creating valuable products and services, rather than pursuing wealth for its own sake. “Be a net contributor to society,” he urged, suggesting that meaningful contributions naturally lead to financial success.
