‘Train Americans, then go home’: New twist in Trump’s H-1B policy, US Treasury Secretary Bessent explains it as part of ‘knowledge transfer’

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that President Doland Trump’s new H-1B visa plan is meant to bring in skilled foreign professionals temporarily to train American workers, not to replace them. In an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, Bessent explained that the policy is part of a “knowledge transfer” effort aimed at rebuilding key US industries like manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductor production, which have declined due to years of outsourcing. “Train the US workers. Then go home. Then the US workers fully take over,” Bessent said, describing the main idea behind the new visa approach.

Responding to criticism that foreign workers might take jobs from Americans, he said firmly, “An American can’t have that job – not yet. We haven’t built ships or semiconductors here for years. Overseas partners coming in, teaching American workers – that’s a home run.”

Bessent added that the plan uses temporary visa programmes like H-1B to bring in experts only long enough for Americans to gain essential skills, after which the foreign workers would return home. The move, he said, fits with Trump’s broader goal of bringing back vital industries to the US and reducing dependence on imports.

The remarks come amid divisions within Trump’s MAGA base over his stance on foreign labour. In another Fox News interview, President Trump said the US “doesn’t have certain talents,” adding that skilled foreign workers are needed to train Americans in advanced technical fields.

“You can’t take people off the unemployment line and say, ‘We’re going to make missiles,’” Trump said, defending the need for specialised expertise from abroad.

Bessent also discussed the administration’s broader economic agenda, confirming that officials are considering a USD 2,000 tariff rebate for families earning under $100,000. “The president’s talking about a USD 2,000 rebate,” he said. “It’s part of ensuring families feel the benefits of strong trade policy.”

Looking ahead, Bessent described 2026 as a possible “blockbuster year” for the US economy. He said the administration’s “Parallel Prosperity” plan – which aims to help both Wall Street and Main Street grow together – relies on keeping the Treasury market deep, liquid, and stable.

What did Trump say?

Earlier, President Doland Trump said that America cannot simply place long-term unemployed people into technical jobs in manufacturing or defence without proper training.

When asked whether H-1B visa restrictions would be a top priority for his administration, Trump replied that the US still needs skilled workers from abroad.
“We also do have to bring talent into the country,” he said.

When pressed further on whether America already has enough talent, Trump responded,
“No, you don’t. No, you don’t… You don’t have certain talents and you have to… People have to learn.”