Trump's MAGA Coalition Divided Over H-1B Visas and AI Talent Acquisition

View: The 'Groyper Army' is going bonkers over the H-1B system being usurped by 'Indian invaders'

Senior journalist who writes on foreign policy and India's place in the world. Fights broke out even before the party started. It's Day 6 on the Maga battlefield and there's Indian blood everywhere. Truth bombs are dropping every second, verbal arrows flying, and the floor of X is littered with broken beliefs, betrayals and bombast. Referees trying to insert themselves in the middle with facts and reality checks are being ignored by the combatants. Who knew things would implode so soon, like before inauguration day? The king watched his devotees pummel each other for days from his castle in Mar-a-Lago before intervening. He finally came out on the side of H-1Bs, which indirectly means for the Indians, since they get most of those visas. But don't rejoice yet. It all started three days before Christmas when Donald Trump named Chennai-born tech VC Sriram Krishnan as a White House senior adviser for AI. In other words, Krishnan would help shape the very future of America, since tech is where the battle for supremacy is to be won or lost. No can do, cried the Groypers - a network of White nationalists who believe that shifting demographics are an existential threat to White-ness and the American way of life. Meaning, the Browning of America is unacceptable. That Krishnan had spoken in favour of removing country caps for green cards to 'unlock skilled immigration' was red meat for the Groypers. Thus began the Maga civil war. But it soon expanded as American wars always do. Anything and everything was in the mix - racism, anti-wokeism, xenophobia, capitalism, exploitation of the H-1B system by 'Indian invaders', etc. Qualified Americans stood no chance getting a tech job because Indians accepted slave wages, said the aggrieved. Krishnan's face was distorted into butter chicken in a photo, Hindu gods were paraded as weird and strange-looking compared to the good-looking Christian god. Leftists watching from the sidelines re-plugged badly researched articles on Hindutva to raise the heat. Yes, all Indians in America are Hindu nationalists, they said. The intra-Maga war may be virtual, but it's also very real. It bares the racism, the deep gulf between lofty values and stark reality and the hypocrisy on both the right and the left. On one side are Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and supporters of high-skilled immigration. On the other is the anti-immigration, mostly White, right-wing brigade. The fight is essentially between new arrivals in Maga camp and old timers who saw the light years ago. While both pledge allegiance to Trump, the new converts stand accused of 'buying' their way into the portal. Fact: Musk is a late bloomer. He donated $260 mn for Trump's election, but only this year - not a true believer for those who trace their ancestry to at least 2020, if not 2016, in this epic. Plus, he came from South Africa on a student visa, but never enrolled in courses at Stanford. Musk worked illegally (on his startup) for more than a year, as did his brother. Today, he is friend-in-chief to Trump. Some see him as 'co-president' who will have a say on all things important - from China to chips and everything in between. That Musk is compromised with his Tesla stakes in a country that's busy trying to dislodge his adopted one from pole position doesn't seem to worry Trump. Or so it seems. 'Originalists' like Steve Bannon who constructed Trump's 2016 campaign call Musk a 'phoney' who is 'owned lock, stock and barrel by the Chinese Communist Party'. In this day and age, Musk's deep investment in China should have been a kiss of death. But it's not. Not so far. The Maga war's medal for 'chief instigator' must go to Ramaswamy, the rapid-fire, fast-talking Tamilian who, along with Musk, has the job of cutting the federal bureaucracy down to size. But sometimes he doesn't know when to stop. His Tiger Dad tweet on H-1Bs, dissing American culture wholesale for worshipping 'mediocrity' over excellence, celebrating the 'prom queen' more than the 'math Olympiad champ', and doing more 'chillin' than science projects stirred not only the Groypers but others too. Here's a counterpoint by Melissa Chen, VP at Strategy Risks: 'Celebrating mindless striving culture reeks of Asian chauvinism and begs the question of why the most high impact individuals - from technologists to artists - do not have cookie cutter childhoods that were mainly spent being groomed for the Ivy League.' Ouch. 'In America, what you have is path independence,' which, according to Chen, is one of the most underrated reasons that makes America great. 'Compare this to striving cultures that produce normal distractions with very low variance, tightly clustered around the mean.' P.S. Democrats are enjoying the docudrama, popcorn in hand, as they read the barrage of tweets so vicious you can curdle. Enjoy they can. But they never debated the deep issues that divide their base.

As H-1B Debate Heats Up, AI Boom Hinges on Skilled Immigrant Workforce

"I will go to war on this issue, the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend", said Elon Musk in an ode to protect the H1B visa program. The appointment of Sriram Krishnan, a renowned Indian-American venture capitalist, as the Senior Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence at the White House has sparked a debate on eliminating the country's cap on H-1B visas. The move could potentially expand opportunities for skilled workers from India, particularly in the technology sector. While popular figures like Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and President-elect Donald Trump are in favour of H-1B visas, a section of right-wing supporters were left disappointed, leading to a series of hostile and racist comments against Krishnan and Indian immigrants. They argue that such a move could take away jobs from Americans and go against Trump's campaign -- Make America Great Again (MAGA). In contrast, Elon Musk, who is likely to chair the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, took an extreme position and said he'd go to war to protect H-1B visa holders. "The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B," he said in a post on X. That said, he acknowledged that the program is broken and needs major reform. To ward off concerns over exploitation by US employers using H-1Bs to undercut salaries, Musk said the problem could be easily fixed by raising the minimum salary and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1Bs. He said such a move could make it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically. Even Krishnan has been vocal about his preference for skilled immigration. "Anything to remove country caps for green cards [permanent resident card] / unlock skilled immigration would be huge," he said in a post on X. The H-1B visa allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers with specialised knowledge. The cap is currently 65,000 per fiscal year, with 20,000 additional visas for those with advanced degrees from US institutions. However, the demand often exceeds this number, resulting in a lottery system for allocation. Some of the world's most valuable companies headquartered in the United States have skilled immigrants leading their innovations and research. Musk, who heads Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, was a South African-born immigrant. Nvidia, the world's biggest public company, was started by Taiwan-born Jensen Huang. Its competitor AMD, which was once on the brink of bankruptcy, was resurrected by Lisa Su, a Taiwanese-born engineer. Again, Databricks, which shook the ecosystem by raising a $10bn Series J funding, is headed by Iranian-American Ali Ghodsi. When it comes to the AI ecosystem, Ilya Sutskever, who formerly worked at OpenAI and spearheaded the company's research, is a Russian-American. Perplexity, the AI search engine valued at a whopping $9 billion, was started by Aravind Srinivas only two years ago. Srinivas is currently an Indian citizen. One of the most groundbreaking studies in the last decade involved immigrants. Ashish Vaswani and Nikki Parmar, engineers of Indian origin, co-authored the research that invented Transformers, the architecture behind AI models today. Last year, research from the National Foundation for American Policy revealed that out of 43 top AI companies listed by Forbes in the United States, 28 -- meaning 65% of them -- had immigrant founders. The report also revealed that 70% of full-time graduate students at U.S. universities in 'selected' AI-related fields are international students. Several studies, statistics, and research suggest that immigration may be good for the United States. Earlier this year, through a research study, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the immigration surge will add $1.2 trillion in federal revenues over the 2024-2034 period. The surge is also said to boost the nominal gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.3 trillion (or 3.2 percent) in 2034 and by $8.9 trillion over the 2024-2034 period. The American Immigration Council, a nonprofit organisation, believes that the presence of immigrant workers creates more job opportunities for native-born workers. In their recent report, the Council further adds that unemployment rates are relatively low in occupations that employ large numbers of H-1B workers. Moreover, the report also revealed a 2019 study that said that 'higher rates of successful H-1B applications were positively correlated with an increased number of patents filed and patent citations.' A 2022 study collaboratively written by Harvard, Stanford, and U.C. Berkely revealed that while immigrants make up about 16 percent of inventors in the US, they have contributed to 30% of the country's total innovation since 1976. A popular media outlet was able to obtain data on all H1B lottery registrations, selections, and petitions for FY 2021-25 through the Freedom of Information Act. It was revealed that China had the highest acceptance rate among all countries, followed by Taiwan, Iran, Bangladesh, ten other countries, and then India. AMD, TikTok, ByteDance, and Adobe were the leading companies with the highest acceptance rate. Back in 2020, Trump expressed concerns about the H-1B visa program harming American citizens. He even suspended new work visas in an effort to deny jobs to immigrants. The American conservative think tank Heritage Foundation advocates for reducing the number of H-1B visas. However, it also recommends increasing the minimum wage for H-1B workers to ensure employers do not misuse the system and hire more immigrants for lower wages than native talent. This has remained a prevalent issue. "Education in most countries that send us H-1B candidates is incredibly limited and highly competitive. The result is only the absolute cream of the crop in those countries gets a chance to apply for an H-1B. We are literally stealing the very best from other countries," said Ethan Evans, a former VP at Amazon. Today, Trump has taken the side of Musk. "I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program," he was quoted as saying. Just before the election, he appeared in a podcast episode and said, "I think you should automatically get a green card as part of your diploma to be able to stay in this country." But his supporters aren't quite happy. Ann Coulter, a political activist, said that while Trump promised to reduce immigration, he has now betrayed the voters.

An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement - wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry - and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be "not America First policy" and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks, whom Trump has tapped to be the "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government, weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect, was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. "There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. "It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley." Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration, including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program "very bad" and "unfair" for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a "Buy American and Hire American" executive order, which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are "poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. "I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the "All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

Maga v Musk: Trump camp divided in bitter fight over immigration policy

Feud flared up when president-elect chose Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-born entrepreneur, as his AI adviser Bitter in-fighting has broken out between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Donald Trump's hardline Make America great again (Maga) base after the US president-elect chose an Indian-born entrepreneur to be his adviser on artificial intelligence. The row has pitted Musk and his fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy against die-hard supporters including the far-right activist Laura Loomer and Matt Gaetz, the former congress member and abortive nominee for attorney general. The spat threatens to open up a chasm among Trump's supporters over immigration, a key issue in his election victory. Presaging what has been called a "Maga civil war", Musk went on the offensive after Loomer attacked the choice of Sriram Krishnan, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, as the nascent administration's AI policy adviser as "deeply disturbing". Loomer, a renowned anti-immigration provocateur widely credited for persuading Trump to highlight false rumors about Haitian immigrants eating pets in last September's presidential debate with Kamala Harris, criticised Krishnan on social media for supporting the extension of visas and green cards for skilled workers. She said it was in "direct opposition" to Trump's agenda. Her comments provoked a riposte from Musk, the Space X and Tesla billionaire who is Trump's most influential supporter and himself an immigrant from South Africa. "There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent. It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley," Musk posted on X, the social media platform he owns, on Christmas day. In a later post, he wrote: "It comes down to this: do you want America to WIN or do you want America to LOSE. If you force the world's best talent to play for the other side, America will LOSE. End of story." Musk's stance was supported by Ramaswamy, his partner in the fledgling "department of government efficiency" (Doge), an informal agency Trump claims he will create, under which the two men will be charged with the task of cutting government spending. In a lengthy, social media post, Ramaswamy - the son of immigrants from India - argued that the US was doomed to decline without high-skilled foreign workers and suggested American culture had become geared towards "mediocrity". "The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over 'native' Americans isn't because of an innate American IQ deficit," he wrote. "A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. "Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long. That doesn't start in college, it starts YOUNG. "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers. 'Normalcy' doesn't cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we'll have our asses handed to us by China." The arguments were met by a fierce backlash from Maga exponents, led by Loomer, who delved into racist arguments. "@VivekGRamaswamy knows that the Great Replacement is real," she wrote. "It's not racist against Indians to want the original MAGA policies I voted for. I voted for a reduction in H1B visas. Not an extension. "The tech billionaires don't get to just walk inside Mar-a-Lago and stroke their massive checkbooks and rewrite our immigration policy so they can have unlimited slave laborers from India and China who never assimilate. "You don't even know what MAGA immigration policy is." Ramaswamy's argument also came under fire from pro-Trump podcaster, Brenden Dilley, who posted: "I always love when these tech bros flat out tell you that they have zero understanding of American culture and then have the gall to tell you that YOU are the problem with America." And even Nikki Haley, the former Republican presidential contender and Trump critic whose parents were also Indian immigrants, posted: "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers." The arguments appeared to portend a battle for the ear of Trump, who has based his political appeal on an anti-immigration message and who, during his first presidency, restricted access to the H-1B visas, arguing they were open to abuse. But in his recent presidential campaign, the president-elect indicated that he was open to the legal immigration of educated workers, saying he wants to grant permanent residence status to foreign nationals who graduate from university in the US. "If you graduate or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country," he told the All In podcast last June. Samuel Hammond, a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation, said the row flagged up the likelihood of future conflict within Trump's administration. "It's a sign of future conflicts," he told the Washington Post. "This is like the pregame."

Is MAGA heading towards civil war? Immigration stance pits Nikki Haley and Laura Loomer against Musk and Ramaswamy

The nomination of Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence in the Trump administration has sparked intense debate on immigration and tech hiring policies. Critics, including MAGA supporters, argue that his views on green card reform undermine "America First" priorities, while others defend the need for global talent in a competitive market. This clash highlights deep divisions over national priorities, economic realities, and cultural attitudes in the US.A political storm is brewing over the nomination of Indian-origin venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence in the Trump administration. His views on reforming immigration policies, particularly the removal of country caps on green cards, have drawn both praise and sharp criticism. The debate underscores a larger rift over the role of foreign talent in the US tech sector and the balance between nationalism and economic pragmatism. Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy weighed in on the debate, defending the hiring of immigrant engineers in the tech industry. In a social media post, Ramaswamy stated, "It's not because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). It all comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers, & if we're really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH." Ramaswamy criticised American cultural attitudes, saying, "Films glorify the prom queen, not the math Olympiad champ. That mindset won't produce the best engineers." He warned, "Normalcy doesn't cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. If we pretend like it does, we'll have our a**es handed to us by China." Also Read: Trump aide Laura Loomer calls Indian immigrants 'third world invaders from India' amid H-1B visa debate, sparks outrage Former US ambassador Nikki Haley was quick to counter Ramaswamy's remarks. Defending American culture and workers, she posted on X (formerly Twitter), "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing in and prioritising Americans, not foreign workers." MAGA supporters have also criticised Krishnan's nomination, with activist Laura Loomer accusing him of betraying the "America First" agenda. She argued that his support for removing country caps on green cards would disproportionately benefit workers from populous countries like India, potentially disadvantaging American STEM graduates. "Deeply disturbing to see the appointment of Sriram Krishnan @sriramk as Senior Policy Advisor for AI at the Office of Science and Technology Policy," Loomer wrote. "How will we control immigration in our country and promote America First innovation when Trump appointed this guy who wants to REMOVE all restrictions on green card caps in the United States so that foreign students...can come to the US and take jobs that should be given to American STEM students." The controversy has revealed a significant divide within the conservative movement. While far-right commentators like Richard Hanania highlighted the necessity of skilled foreign workers, others, including Scott Greer, voiced concerns about the potential influx of immigrants. Greer argued, "Eliminating the country caps would allow Indians to monopolise green cards, meaning we'd get an even bigger influx of South Asians to this country. Trump supporters didn't vote to dramatically increase Indian migration." On the other hand, figures like US Rep Ro Khanna defended Krishnan and the role of immigrants in driving American innovation. Khanna wrote, "You fools criticising @sriramk as Indian born criticise Musk as South African born or Jensen as Taiwanese born. It is GREAT that talent around the world wants to come here, not to China, & that Sriram can rise to the highest levels. It's called American exceptionalism." Krishnan, a Chennai-born coder and venture capitalist, has been vocal about immigration reform. He advocates removing country caps on green cards, citing the adverse effects of the 7% limit on skilled workers from countries with large populations. This stance has made him a target of MAGA criticism, despite support from other prominent figures in the tech and political communities. The debate reflects a broader tension between nationalist sentiments and the economic need for global talent in a hyper-competitive market. While some argue that prioritising American workers aligns with the "America First" agenda, others warn that such restrictions could hinder innovation and competitiveness, especially against global powers like China.

An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement -- wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry -- and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be "not America First policy" and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks, whom Trump has tapped to be the "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government, weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect, was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. "There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. "It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley." Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration, including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program "very bad" and "unfair" for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a "Buy American and Hire American" executive order, which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are "poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. "I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the "All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

Why Trump's AI advisor pick Sriram Krishnan is facing backlash from far-right activists

MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters, another name for Trump followers, have also criticised Krishnan's nomination, with activist Laura Loomer accusing him of betraying the "America First" agenda. She argued that his support for removing country caps on green cards would disproportionately benefit workers from populous countries like India, potentially disadvantaging American STEM graduates.Sriram Krishnan, the Chennai-born tech expert recently appointed as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by US President-elect Donald Trump, has been facing racist online attacks from far-right groups. These groups and individuals have accused Krishnan and other Indian Americans of "stealing jobs from Americans". Despite the backlash, the appointment has won the support of many industry leaders, including Elon Musk. Online backlash At the heart of this backlash is the country's immigration policy. Krishnan has publicly advocated for removing the per-country cap on H-1B visas and green cards to get and retain top talent worldwide, including from India. The barrage of online hate comments began with a viral post on X, where a user posted Krishnan's picture with the caption, "Did any of yall vote for this Indian to run America?" "No matter what Sriram Krishnan says, he is INDIA First. No matter what the people around him say. Their only goal is to import more Indians to REPLACE American Workers," his post read. Also Read: Donald Trump appoints top tech advisers; signals shift with pro-crypto stance One user wrote, "Sriram Krishnan's appointment has provoked the sort of online racism I haven't seen since 9-11... he's not the first Indian in a senior White House role... what's going on?" Another post said it is "disgusting how Trump and co want to flood America with Indians as long as they have a degree." Trump's fans step back MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters, another name for Trump followers, have also criticised Krishnan's nomination, with activist Laura Loomer accusing him of betraying the "America First" agenda. She argued that his support for removing country caps on green cards would disproportionately benefit workers from populous countries like India, potentially disadvantaging American STEM graduates. "It's alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump's admin when they share views that are in direct opposition to Trump's America First agenda," she said. Loomer has been against the H-1B visa policy, claiming that Musk's platform X is censoring her views on the same. Drumming up support On the other hand, some from the policy and tech circles also lent support to Krishnan. David Sacks, a prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur and ally of Krishnan, stepped forward to defend his friend. "Sriram has been a US citizen for a decade. He's not 'running America.' He's advising on AI policy," he said on X. Musk said on X that the views of those opposing Krishnan's stand on immigration have a "fixed pie" fallacy, calling it "wrong-headed" economic thinking. Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna also highlighted that Krishnan's appointment reflects the values of American exceptionalism, and is not a threat to it. H-1B visa The H-1B visa is at the centre of this controversy. It is a non-immigrant visa in the US that allows the country's employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. Critics like Loomer argue that the H-1B program is vulnerable to abuse, with some employers using it to hire cheaper foreign labour instead of American workers.

'Did you vote for this Indian to run America?': Sriram Krishnan, Trump's AI advisor, faces backlash. This happens next

Sriram Krishnan, US President-elect Donald Trump's pick as Senior White House Policy Advisor for AI, faced backlash on social media. A user asked in a post on X whether people voted for Sriram Krishnan to run America. However, David Sacks and Ro Khanna came out in his defence amid increasing criticism. This week, Donald Trump picked Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. The appointment of Chennai-born techie Sriram Krishnan as Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI has triggered a fresh debate that pits Silicon Valley's tech titans against the populist MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. At the heart of this clash is a growing tension over the future of US immigration policy and the role that foreign talent, particularly from countries like India, should play in shaping America's technological landscape. Following a post by an X user, who wrote, "Did any of yall vote for this Indian to run America", David Sacks, a prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur and ally of Krishnan, has once again stepped forward to defend his friend amid increasing criticism. Sacks responded by emphasizing Krishnan's qualifications and US citizenship. A community note on the post had already clarified that Krishnan, a US citizen, was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to advise on AI policy, but Sacks took the opportunity to rebut further: "Sriram has been a US citizen for a decade. He's not 'running America.' He's advising on A.I. policy. He will have no influence over US immigration policy. These attacks have become crude, and not in the holiday spirit. I'm signing off now. Have a merry Christmas." (sic) ALSO READ: Sriram Krishnan, who worked for Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, is now Trump's AI advisor The venture capitalist's incoming move met with a similar backlash, especially from Laura Loomer. Sacks' defense follows a string of attacks from far-right critics, including conservative commentator Laura Loomer. Loomer has been vocal in her disapproval of Krishnan's appointment, accusing him of betraying the "America First" agenda by advocating for immigration reforms that she claims would undermine American workers. Loomer's criticisms focus on Krishnan's support for removing country-specific caps on green cards, which she argues would prioritize foreign workers over American talent. Condemning the "disturbing" appointment of Krishnan as part of the Trump administration 2.0, Loomer wrote on X, "It's alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump's admin when they share views that are in direct opposition to Trump's America First agenda." ALSO READ: Prince Harry was left 'red-faced' over Meghan Markle's actions in Netflix docuseries. The reason might shock youLambasting the move that according to her does not stand by an "America First policy," she alleged that Sriram Krishnan's appointment would work against Trump's immigration control agenda as the Indian American member in his cabinet "wants to REMOVE all restrictions on green card caps in the United States so that foreign students (which makes up 78% of the employees in Silicon Valley) can come to the US and take jobs that should be given to American STEM students." However, Sacks and others have pushed back against these accusations, clarifying Krishnan's stance on immigration. In a series of posts, Sacks explained that Krishnan's position on green card reform is focused on removing country-specific caps, which currently create long wait times for applicants from countries like India, while applicants from other nations face little delay. "Sriram didn't say he wants to remove all caps on green cards. ALSO READ: Ro Khanna defends Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan's appointment as Trump's AI advisor; calls it 'American exceptionalism' He said he wants to remove country caps on green cards," Sacks explained. "Right now, every country in the world gets allocated the same number of green cards, no matter how many qualified applicants it has." Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna also weighed in on the controversy, highlighting that Krishnan's rise to a senior policy role in the US government reflects the values of American exceptionalism, not a threat to it. Khanna posted on X: "You fools criticizing @sriramk as Indian born criticize Musk as South African born or Jensen as Taiwanese born. It is GREAT that talent around the world wants to come here, not to China, and that Sriram can rise to the highest levels. It's called American exceptionalism." Khanna's remarks underscore a key point in the ongoing debate: the notion that the US benefits from attracting global talent, especially in the rapidly evolving fields of technology and AI, which require highly skilled workers. ALSO READ: Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland: Why is Trump teasing US expansion? All you need to know A major point of contention in this debate is the H-1B visa program, which allows US companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, particularly in the fields of technology and engineering. Critics of the program, like Loomer, argue that it is often abused by companies seeking to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor. On the other hand, supporters like Sriram Krishnan argue that such programs are essential for maintaining the US's competitive edge in global tech, according to a TOI report. Krishnan has long advocated for reforms to the green card system, emphasizing a merit-based approach that prioritizes highly skilled workers rather than basing allocation on country quotas. Under the current system, applicants from high-demand countries, like India, can face decades-long waiting periods for green cards, while applicants from other nations face little to no delay. By removing country caps, Krishnan believes the US can create a more efficient system that better meets the needs of the country's technology sector.

Trump's AI advisor choice triggers an infighting in MAGA. Here's all about the feud between Elon Musk and Laura Loomer

The fragile MAGA coalition faces internal strife as Trump's Senior AI Advisor Sriram Krishnan, who supports lifting green card caps, becomes a focal point for far-right anger. Conflicts emerge between tech elites and hardliners, highlighting a deeper identity crisis within the movement.With hindsight, the rift was inevitable. The MAGA movement -- a chaotic coalition of libertarian tech enthusiasts, ultra-nationalist Groypers, and everything in between -- was always teetering on collapse. The tipping point? Sriram Krishnan, Trump's newly appointed Senior AI Advisor, whose support for lifting country caps on green cards ignited a firestorm. While immigration isn't even within Krishnan's remit, MAGA hardliners seized the opportunity, unleashing simmering racism and zeroing in on Krishnan's Indian heritage. What followed was a full-blown civil war, with far-right activists like Laura Loomer clashing against tech elites such as Elon Musk and David Sacks, dubbed the "Tech Bros for Trump." And Trump himself? Blissfully detached from the fray, enjoying a Big Mac as chaos unfolded. Loomer's Misfire on Sriram Krishnan MAGA provocateur Laura Loomer was first to attack, accusing Krishnan on X (formerly Twitter) of being a "globalist tech bro" intent on displacing American workers. She even alleged that he had donated to Kamala Harris's campaign. There was just one problem: Loomer had the wrong Sriram Krishnan. X's Community Notes swiftly corrected her, stating, "This tweet references a different individual with the same name." The internet pounced. Loomer's blunder quickly became a viral self-own, turning her into the main character of MAGA's latest circus. Elon Musk and David Sacks Enter the Battle As Loomer scrambled, David Sacks, a prominent Trump supporter and Silicon Valley insider, came to Krishnan's defense. Sacks argued that Krishnan's position was focused on improving inefficiencies in the immigration system, not undermining American workers. Elon Musk joined in with a simple "Makes sense." His endorsement set off another wave of memes and backlash, with Loomer's supporters accusing him of betraying MAGA's sacred "America First" mantra. Backed into a corner, Loomer played her favorite card: victimhood. She accused Musk of throttling her account and removing her blue checkmark on X, declaring, "Free speech for all, or free speech for nobody!" Ironically, she continued to use X to voice her grievances. She even urged her followers to migrate to Truth Social, promising the "unfiltered Loomer Experience™." Few took her up on the offer, preferring to stay on X to enjoy the unfolding drama. Nick Fuentes and his far-right Groypers capitalized on the chaos, flooding X with memes and incendiary rhetoric. For them, Krishnan embodied everything they despised: globalism, diversity, and Silicon Valley's growing influence over MAGA. They painted Musk as a tech oligarch and Krishnan as a symbol of "globalist elites." This Musk-Loomer conflict underscores a deeper identity crisis within MAGA. On one side stand pragmatists like Musk and Sacks, advocating for global talent and innovation to sustain America's competitiveness. On the other side are hardliners like Loomer and Fuentes, clinging to an exclusionary, nationalist vision. And Trump? He remains the chaos conductor, letting factions battle it out while keeping himself above the fray. The real question isn't just who wins this internal feud -- it's whether MAGA can survive its own contradictions. For now, the spectacle rages on, feeding the movement's drama-hungry base even as its foundations start to crack. One thing's certain: in the MAGA universe, the show never ends.

Amid Sriram Krishnan's criticism on his immigration views, Elon Musk says 'America will lose if...'

Elon Musk has come out in support of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan, who has been appointed by Donald Trump as Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan has been facing criticism online by far-right groups especially from Laura Loomer for his views on immigration and his stance on H1-B visa. Amid this row, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy discussed the problem of shortage of talented and skilled workers in the US. The appointment of Indian-origin entrepreneur Sriram Krishan as senior White House AI policy advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump has caused a stir online. He has been hit with a wave of criticism by far-right groups particularly from activist Laura Loomer. Loomer voiced concerns about Krishnan's appointment, claiming it runs counter to Trump's "America First" agenda, especially in light of Krishnan's past advocacy for removing country-specific caps on green cards. Amid the recent controversy surrounding Chennai-born techie's appointment, who has faced scrutiny over his views on immigration and high-skilled worker visas, Elon Musk, one of Trump's closest allies, highlighted the scarcity of skilled engineering talent in Silicon valley. ALSO READ: Trump's AI advisor Shriram Krishan donated for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign? Truth might shock you Elon Musk wrote on X, "It comes down to this: do you want America to WIN or do you want America to LOSE? If you force the world's best talent to play for the other side, America will LOSE. End of story." Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and political figure, quickly responded, "America-First means we want America to WIN. Playing for second place doesn't cut it." His reply was seen as a pointed comment on the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy and the need for top-tier talent in the US. Musk's original post had focused on what he sees as a critical shortage of engineering talent in the US, particularly in fields like AI and semiconductors. "The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low," Musk explained. He went on to liken the situation to a pro sports team, stating, "If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win." ALSO READ: 'Did you vote for this Indian to run America?': Sriram Krishnan, Trump's AI advisor, faces backlash. This happens next This conversation was sparked by a post on X that discussed the significant gap in engineering talent, particularly within the US semiconductor industry. The post noted that the US semiconductor industry alone needs over 160,000 engineers by 2032 due to $250 billion in new investments. Demand for AI experts has also surged, with Musk calling the talent shortage "the craziest" ever. The post further highlighted the struggles of STEM programs to produce enough graduates, which threatens innovation and global competitiveness. In response, Musk emphasized the importance of expanding STEM education, streamlining high-skilled immigration, and reskilling workers to address the growing talent gap. ALSO READ: Trump's Christmas wish list: Annexing Canada, seizing Panama Canal. It also has a swipe at Barack ObamaAmerican far-right political activist Laura Loomer has criticised the appointment of Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan as Donald Trump's AI advisor. In a post shared on X this afternoon, she said that Krishnan's views on immigration are diametrically opposite to Trump's. Loomer claimed that Krishnan wants to remove all caps on green cards so foreign students can come to the United States and take up jobs that should instead go to Americans. Loomer, a prominent voice in the far-right rhetoric, dug up Krishnan's old tweet on removing the country cap on green cards to make her case. However, she was schooled by a large section of the social media platform which claimed that Krishnan was only speaking about the removal of country caps on green cards. ALSO READ: Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland: Why is Trump teasing US expansion? All you need to know In response to these attacks, Krishnan has garnered support from industry leaders like Musk and Sacks. Musk refuted the criticisms, dismissing them as a result of the "fixed pie" fallacy, saying, "There is essentially infinite potential for job and company creation." Sacks, who will work with Krishnan on AI policy, emphasized that Krishnan supports a merit-based immigration system and aims to shorten wait times for green cards, particularly for Indian nationals. FAQs Who has been appointed as the senior White House AI policy advisor to President-elect Donald Trump? Indian-origin entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan has been appointed as the senior White House AI policy advisor. What criticism has Sriram Krishnan faced regarding his appointment? He has faced criticism from far-right groups, particularly from activist Laura Loomer, who opposes his views on immigration.

'Stealing jobs': Trump's AI advisor pick, Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan faces racist attacks

Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan, named as President-elect Donald Trump's AI policy advisor, is facing backlash from the far-right. Accusations of 'stealing jobs' and debates over H-1B visas dominate social media, with far-right activist Laura Loomer leading the charge. In response, Elon Musk and David Sacks came to Krishnan's defence, labelling the attacks unfounded and vouching for his qualifications.

Ro Khanna defends Indian-origin Sriram Krishnan's appointment as Trump's AI advisor; calls it 'American exceptionalism'

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna criticised those targeting Indian-born Sriram Krishnan, who was recently chosen as a senior policy advisor for Artificial Intelligence by President-elect Donald Trump, over his Indian origin. Khanna emphasised that the ability of the United States to attract talent from around the world shows America's "exceptionalism" which puts it ahead of other countries like China. Following a post by an X user, who wrote, "Did any of yall vote for this Indian to run America," Khanna on X wrote, "You fools criticizing @sriramk as Indian born criticize Musk as South African born or Jensen as Taiwanese born." "It is great that talent around the world wants to come here, not to China, and that Sriram can rise to the highest levels. It's called American exceptionalism," the post added. https://x.com/RoKhanna/status/1871754547221475369 US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Sriram Krishnan as senior policy advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Sharing a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, "Sriram Krishnan will serve as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy." "Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI, and help shape and coordinate A.l. policy across Government, including working with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Sriram started his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure," he said. Krishnan, 41, acknowledged the offer and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity by saying, "I'm honoured to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with @DavidSacks. Thank you @realDonaldTrump for this opportunity." Krishnan till recently was a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a personal investor in over two dozen companies including SpaceX, Figma and Scale.ai. He previously led organisations at Meta, Twitter/X and Microsoft. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology from SRM Engineering College, Anna University.

Meet Chennai techie set to guide Trump on all things AI tech

Among the Indians and Indian Americans who have been appointed are Chandigarh-born Harmeet Kaur Dhillon as the assistant attorney general (US Department of Justice), Kolkata-born Jay Bhattacharya as the director of National Institutes of Health, Kashyap Patel as the director of the FBI, Vivek Ramaswamy as the head of the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Tulsi Gabbard as the director of National Intelligence. Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of vice president-elect JD Vance, will be the first Indian-origin second lady of the US.Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan is the latest addition to the growing list of Indian Americans appointed in the Trump 2.0 administration. He will serve as senior White House policy advisor for artificial intelligence (AI). A graduate from SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) in Tamil Nadu, Krishnan began his career at Microsoft and went on to work with big tech giants like Facebook (now Meta), Snap and Twitter (now X). He was handpicked by billionaire Elon Musk to help with Twitter's transition after his takeover of the microblogging platform in 2022. The 41-year-old software engineer joined Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as a general partner in 2021 and lead or worked on many investments at the firm in AI, consumer and crypto. He also engaged with various domestic and international stakeholders on AI policy while opening and running the firm's UK office. What else is he known for? Krishnan is also an active investor and has backed several companies including SpaceX, Figma, Notion and Scale.ai among others. He is also an advisor to Indian fintech company Cred. He is known as the co-host of The Aarthi and Sriram Show, which he hosts with his wife Aarthi Ramamurthy. The podcast amassed a loyal following on the audio-only social media app Clubhouse during the pandemic and is available today across platforms. The podcast dives deep into understanding how various entrepreneurs and builders made it. Why has Krishnan's appointment concerned some in the US? Some Americans are questioning the implications of his appointment, particularly over his views on immigration and the expansion of the H-1B visa programme. One handle on X called US Tech Workers called it "a very questionable appointment" by Trump and said it was "Not America First at all," as they believed that Krishnan was keen to remove country cap quotas for Green Cards and expand the H-1B programme. Such critics believe these moves may harm American workers and prioritise immigration over domestic interests. Who are the other Indians/Indian Americans who will be part of the new Trump administration? Among the Indians and Indian Americans who have been appointed are Chandigarh-born Harmeet Kaur Dhillon as the assistant attorney general (US Department of Justice), Kolkata-born Jay Bhattacharya as the director of National Institutes of Health, Kashyap Patel as the director of the FBI, Vivek Ramaswamy as the head of the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Tulsi Gabbard as the director of National Intelligence. Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of vice president-elect JD Vance, will be the first Indian-origin second lady of the US. Andrew NG tweeted: Sriram has been consistently thoughtful about AI policy, including specifically the importance of promoting open source. His working with @DavidSacks on AI will be good for innovation and good for the US. Thank you @sriramk for your service! Sridhar Vembu @svembu: Congratulations Sriram! Back in 2004, when Sriram was graduating from SRM University, I came across his blog - one of the early programming blogs from India at that time. I was so impressed I wanted to recruit him, but Microsoft already had recruited him. We have been in touch on and off as he later moved to Silicon Valley and became an entrepreneur. President Trump has found a great talent for his technology team!

Trump Appoints Indian-American Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for AI

Krishnan led AI at a16z, advised on policy, and worked at Twitter, Meta, Snap, and Azure. US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-American former venture capitalist, as the senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Krishnan, an Elon Musk aide, will help shape AI policy across government, including working with the President's council of advisors on science and technology. "I'm honoured to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI working closely with David Sacks," Krishnan shared on X. Prior to this, Krishnan drove investments in consumer AI and crypto at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and engaged with global stakeholders on AI policy. He has also worked with Twitter, Meta, and Snap. According to Trump's post, Krishnan began his career as one of the founding members of Microsoft's Windows Azure. Earlier this month, Sacks was appointed as the United States' first artificial intelligence and crypto czar. Both Sacks and Krishnan are expected to work closely with Musk, who will head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration. In 2022, he rose to prominence for working with Musk and Sacks on reshaping X following its acquisition. He, along with his wife Aarthi Ramamurthy, co-hosts The Aarthi and Sriram Show. Many in the VC and AI circles congratulated Krishnan on his new role, including xAI Founder Elon Musk, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil, among others. "Sriram has been consistently thoughtful about AI policy, specifically the importance of promoting open source. His working with David Sacks on AI will be good for innovation and the US," shared Andrew Ng, co-founder at Coursera and DeepLearning.AI As an Indian-American immigrant, Krishnan has been vocal about highly skilled immigration into America. He completed his education in India, graduating in 2005 with a degree in IT from SRM Engineering College, Anna University, Tamil Nadu.

Donald Trump Appoints Indian-Origin Entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan As Senior AI Policy Advisor

He has held key positions in firms, including Microsoft, Facebook and Snap US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Indian-origin entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as senior White House policy advisor on artificial intelligence. "Sriram Krishnan will serve as the senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy," Trump shared in a post on Truth Social, as he announced a slew of appointments on AI. "Working alongside David Sacks, Krishnan will focus on ensuring the continued leadership of the United States in AI, and on shaping and coordinating AI policy across government, including with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology," Trump stated. Responding to Trump's announcement, Krishnan in a post on X, wrote, "I'm honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI. Thank you, Donald Trump, for this opportunity." Krishnan has served in the product design space for over two decades. He has held key positions in firms, including Microsoft where he began in the year 2005, later moved to Facebook for around 3 years, leading the product strategy. He has also served at Snap and Twitter leading consumer product teams. In his personal capacity he has been an advisor to firms such as Figma, Notion, Cameo, Coda Scale.ai, Elon Musk's SpaceX and CRED among others.

From SRM University to Donald Trump's AI advisor: How a Chennai company spotted Sriram Krishnan's talent years ago

Sriram Krishnan has been appointed as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. His journey from SRM University in Chennai to top positions at Microsoft, Twitter, Facebook, and Snap is notable. Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corp, recognized Krishnan's potential early in his career.The appointment of Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has sparked significant interest, but an intriguing aspect of this story is the connection between Chennai-born Krishnan and Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corp. Vembu, known for his visionary leadership in the tech industry, had spotted his potential early on. Sridhar Vembu's interest in Krishnan dates back to 2004 when Krishnan was completing his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree in Computer Science at SRM Engineering College (SRM University) in Chennai. At the time, Krishnan had gained recognition for his innovative programming blog, which was among the first of its kind in India. Vembu, impressed by Krishnan's insights and technical expertise, expressed a desire to recruit him for Zoho. However, Krishnan had already accepted an offer from Microsoft, marking the beginning of his remarkable career in technology. As the CEO of Zoho Corp, a company renowned for its software solutions and emphasis on localized talent development, Vembu has consistently championed the idea that world-class innovation can emerge from any part of the globe, including smaller cities and towns in India. Netizens expressed admiration for the inspiring journey from SRM to Silicon Valley, emphasizing the achievements and potential for continued success in the new role. They highlighted how brilliance and recognition don't rely on an Ivy League education, showcasing how graduates from local Chennai universities can excel and secure top positions in leading organizations or government institutions. The messages celebrated talent, hard work, and the ability to outperform competition regardless of educational background, offering motivation and hope to aspiring professionals aiming for global success. After starting at Microsoft, where he was a founding member of the Windows Azure team, Krishnan went on to lead teams at Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo!, and Snap. His work in scaling products to millions of users and building billion-dollar businesses showcased the kind of excellence Vembu identified early in his career. Beyond his corporate roles, Krishnan's foray into venture capital further exemplifies his versatility. As a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, he focused on supporting entrepreneurs and advancing artificial intelligence. His personal investments in companies like SpaceX, Figma, and Scale.ai reflect his commitment to driving innovation across industries. The appointment of Krishnan to the White House team marks a significant milestone not only for him but also for the broader narrative of Indian talent shaping global technology. Vembu's acknowledgment of this achievement underscores the pride and inspiration that Krishnan's journey brings to the Indian tech community.

Sriram Krishnan named Trump's senior policy advisor for AI

Incoming president Donald Trump has confirmed reports that Sriram Krishnan, until recently a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), will serve as senior policy advisor for AI at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Trump said in a statement that Krishnan will "help shape and coordinate AI policy across government, working with the president's council of advisors on science and technology." And in a post on X, Krishnan said that he'll be working closely with ex-PayPal COO David Sacks, who was recently named Trump's crypto and AI 'czar.' "I'm honored to be able to serve our country and ensure continued American leadership in AI," Krishnan wrote. "Thank you, Donald Trump, for this opportunity." Krishnan, an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and podcaster, previously led product teams at Microsoft, Twitter, Yahoo! (disclosure: TechCrunch's parent company), Facebook, and Snap. He and his wife, Aarthi Ramamurthy, rose to additional prominence in 2021 as podcast hosts. Krishnan has a close relationship with Musk, with whom he worked to rebuild Twitter (now X) following Musk's acquisition of the company in 2022. Musk co-leads the Department of Government Efficiency, a policy group to recommend government restructuring and cuts to federal spending. Krishnan was appointed a general partner at a16z in February 2021, and in 2023 was selected to lead the firm's London office, its first non-U.S. location.

Trump Taps Sriram Krishnan As Senior AI Advisor -- Elon Musk Agrees New David Sacks Underling 'Right Man For The Topic And The Time' - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, as senior policy advisor for AI. What Happened: In a statement on Sunday, Trump said that Krishnan will serve in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, working closely with David Sacks, recently named Trump's "AI and crypto czar." See Also: Nvidia, Apple Team Up To Supercharge ChatGPT-Like LLMs With ReDrafter Technique Krishnan expressed his gratitude for the appointment, calling it an honor to contribute to American leadership in AI. Why It Matters: Krishnan, a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist, has a storied career leading product teams at major companies like Microsoft Corporation MSFT, Twitter, Meta Platforms Inc. META, and Snap Inc. SNAP. He also has a close relationship with Elon Musk, who co-leads the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump. Previously, Krishnan has advocated for a more innovative, technology-driven approach to resolving conflicts between large internet platforms and AI-powered models like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Following Trump's announcement, venture capital powerhouse Marc Andreessen took to X, formerly Twitter, and called Krishnan's appointment a "1,000x upgrade for the U.S. government," for positioning itself as a global AI policy leader. Musk agreed with Andreessen's sentiments. Image via Shutterstock Read Next: Elon Musk A Legendary Entrepreneur But Also A Bully, Says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: 'Now It's Me, It's Been Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg, Lots Of Other People' METAMeta Platforms Inc$588.90-1.12%Overview Rating:Good62.5%Technicals Analysis1000100Financials Analysis400100WatchlistOverviewMSFTMicrosoft Corp$437.350.07%SNAPSnap Inc$11.451.33%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs