Elon Musk praised Indian talent for immensely benefiting the US on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, defending H-1B visas while slamming outsourcing firms for gaming the system and urging reforms amid Trump’s policies.
Elon Musk, on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s “People by WTF” podcast released on 29 November 2025, affirmed the US has “benefitted immensely” from Indian engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs at firms like Tesla, SpaceX, X, and xAI while criticising outsourcing companies for “gaming” the H-1B visa system through misuse and exploitation.
He rejected claims of job theft by skilled immigrants, stressing a global talent shortage and the need for reforms like higher wages and border controls rather than scrapping the programme, amid President Donald Trump’s stricter visa policies.
No fresh official statements surfaced, but Musk’s views highlight tech industry needs versus American worker protections, with Indian-origin leaders like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella exemplifying contributions.
Musk Highlights US Gains from Indian Expertise
Elon Musk directly endorsed the pivotal role of Indian professionals in bolstering American innovation during the nearly three-hour unscripted conversation.
“I think America has benefited immensely from talented Indians that have come to America,” he stated, crediting them for strengthening tech and business sectors. Kamath noted India’s “brain drain” to the US, pointing to Indian-origin CEOs at Google, Microsoft, and beyond, to which Musk agreed, emphasising his companies’ focus on hiring “the most talented people in the world” irrespective of origin.
Musk countered perceptions from some US quarters, particularly on the political right, that foreign workers displace locals. From his experience, “there’s always a scarcity of talented people,” making more skilled immigrants beneficial for tackling complex challenges.
He clarified that Tesla and SpaceX pay above-market wages, prioritising excellence over cost-cutting, which humanises the narrative by showing real-world hiring struggles in high-stakes industries.
Critique of H-1B Misuse and Reform Imperative
Musk pinpointed vulnerabilities in the H-1B programme, established under the 1990 Immigration Act to enable US firms to hire specialists in tech and other fields.
“Some outsourcing companies have kind of gamed the system on the H-1B front, and we need to stop the gaming,” he remarked, advocating fixes to prevent underpayment and abuse without abolishing it-a shutdown would be “very bad.”
Indians dominate H-1B approvals, fuelling both praise for their impact and debates over fairness.
This stance aligns with Musk’s earlier defences amid MAGA backlash during Trump’s campaign, evolving into calls for higher fees, wage floors, and transparency.
He tied it to broader immigration, slamming past “free-for-all” border policies under Biden: “Unless you have proper border checks, you’re not a country.”
Such controls, he argued, ensure orderly talent inflows. These details reveal the nuanced balance Musk seeks between openness and safeguards.
Broader Context: Talent Scarcity and Future Visions
The podcast delved into interconnected themes amplifying Musk’s H-1B comments. He predicted work could become “optional, like a hobby” in 10-20 years due to AI abundance, reducing job competition fears while underscoring current engineering shortages-America lacks top 0.1% talent.
Personal ties surfaced too: Musk revealed partner Shivon Zilis is half-Indian, with one son’s middle name “Sekhar” honouring physicist C.V. Raman, adding a human layer to his affinity for India.
Historically, H-1B tensions peaked post-2024 election with Trump’s pledges for reforms, including fee hikes to protect US workers. Musk’s remarks, post-inauguration, reflect ongoing policy flux in his role influencing Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Kamath’s probing-covering family, AI, and entrepreneurship-framed Musk’s advice to Indians: build for society, not just profit. This context equips readers with the full ecosystem shaping visa discourse.
Key Takeaways from the Podcast
- Indian Talent and H-1B Reforms: Musk stated the US has “benefited immensely from talented Indians” at Tesla, SpaceX, X, and xAI, defending H-1B for top global talent amid shortages but criticising outsourcing firms for “gaming the system” via underpayment. He urged reforms like higher wages over abolition, aligning with Trump’s policies.
- Future of Work as Optional: Musk predicted working becomes a “hobby” in 10-20 years due to AI/robotics abundance (Universal High Income over UBI), saturating human needs and causing deflation by outpacing money supply growth.
- Family and Indian Ties: Revealed partner Shivon Zilis is half-Indian; son named X Æ A-Xii (with “X” affinity), another with middle name “Sekhar” after C.V. Raman; stressed fertility amid population decline.
- X Platform Evolution: Aims for “collective consciousness” via text/video/AI real-time translation; critiques past Twitter bias, pushes balanced “global town square” with payments.
- AI and Simulation: Discussed simulation theory, regulating AI for nuance, and convergence of Tesla/SpaceX/xAI for space-based solar AI.
- Trade and Tariffs: Favours free trade over Trump’s tariffs, arguing they distort like city/state barriers; supports DOGE efficiency cuts.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Musk’s forthright endorsement of Indian talent while demanding H-1B integrity exemplifies the empathy needed in global migration debates, honouring contributions that drive progress without excusing exploitation.
Reforms rooted in fairness-ensuring dignified wages, transparent hiring, and secure borders-can foster harmony, allowing skilled flows to uplift all societies in coexistence.
The Logical Indian champions dialogue that bridges divides, prioritising kindness and equity over zero-sum conflicts.
True social change emerges when policies reflect mutual respect, celebrating human potential across borders.
