Donald Trump’s recent statement that America needs to “bring talent into the country” has been significantly re-framed by Scott Bessent. What sounded like a new, softer policy on skilled immigration is actually a “knowledge transfer” strategy. According to Bessent, the plan is not to let foreign workers stay, but to have them come, “train the US workers,” and then “go home,” a model he lauded as a “home run.”
The initial comments from Trump were surprising. He suggested H-1B restrictions might not be a priority and defended the need for foreign expertise, stating, “No, you don’t… You don’t have certain talents and you have to… People have to learn.” This was widely seen as a major concession and a pivot from his administration’s previous immigration posture.
Bessent’s clarification, however, paints a much more nationalist and protectionist picture. He explained that this is not about welcoming immigrants, but about a transactional exchange of skills. The new H-1B policy would be designed to use foreign experts as a short-term educational resource to bridge the skills gap in the American workforce.
The proposed system would grant temporary visas, with Bessent mentioning possible durations of three to seven years. The primary function of these visa holders would be to act as instructors. They would be brought in to teach Americans how to perform high-tech jobs in sectors that have languished in the US, such as semiconductor and ship manufacturing.
Bessent was clear about the end goal: American self-sufficiency. He directly addressed the idea that Americans could do these jobs now, saying, “An American can’t have that job, not yet.” The plan’s “home run” aspect is that after the training period, the foreign experts depart, and a fully capable American workforce takes permanent control of these vital industries.