During a 2016 Republican primary debate, Donald Trump stunned the audience by candidly admitting that he preferred hiring foreign workers—calling it “something I have to use.” This clip has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of his outsourcing practices.
At a Glance
- Trump acknowledged using H‑1B and H‑2 visa labor in his businesses during the February 25, 2016 debate.
- He boasted he was “the only one on the stage that’s hired people,” referencing foreign labor use his rivals did not.
- Senator Marco Rubio highlighted that Trump had hired workers from Poland, to which Trump responded defensively.
- The exchange raised questions about his stance on protecting American worker interests.
- The debate moment spotlighted deeper tensions in Trump’s messaging on immigration and jobs.
Debate Spotlight
In the CNN-hosted debate, Trump responded to Rubio’s accusation that he “hired workers from Poland” with sharp retorts: “No, no, I’m the only one on the stage that’s hired people… I’ve hired tens of thousands over at my job.” He defended hiring foreign labor as a business tool, stirring both applause and backlash. The full exchange is captured in this debate clip and in Time’s transcript.
Trump’s remarks contradicted his broader campaign rhetoric about restoring American jobs, as he openly acknowledged a reliance on visa-based foreign labor. His use of the H‑1B, H‑2A, and H‑2B programs had been previously documented in immigration records and press reports.
Watch a report: 2016 Final Presidential Debate: Immigration
Political Fallout
Rubio seized on the exchange as evidence of Trump’s prioritization of cheap foreign labor, challenging the core of Trump’s “America First” narrative. The contradiction between Trump’s business practices and his political platform became a talking point in media coverage and among rivals. As Vanity Fair reported, Trump’s embrace of H‑1B workers continued even as he campaigned against the very policies that enable them.
Echoes in Today’s MAGA Debate
Trump’s openness to foreign labor now echoes in current MAGA divisions over skilled immigration. Figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have voiced support for high-skill visa programs, further complicating the ideological cohesion of the movement. As AP News reports, pro-business conservatives increasingly diverge from hardline immigration nationalists on this issue.
Trump’s 2016 confession offers a revealing snapshot: a candidate claiming to defend American workers while benefiting from foreign outsourcing—a contradiction still reshaping the fault lines within the Republican Party.
