Trump Tells Big Tech to Stop Hiring from India at AI Summit
Washington / New Delhi – July 23, 2025
In a bold move that could reshape global hiring trends, US President Donald Trump has urged major tech companies to end overseas hiring, specifically calling out India during his address at an AI Summit in Washington. His comments have sent shockwaves across the tech world and intensified concerns in India’s outsourcing industry, which already faces rising unemployment and policy uncertainty.
“Big Tech has reaped the blessings of American freedom while hiring workers in India and building factories in China. Under President Trump, those days are over,” said Trump at the summit.
This isn’t the first time Trump has criticized the global hiring practices of US-based technology giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. But this time, the remarks were unusually pointed, with India named as a direct target.
AI, Patriotism, and Tech Nationalism
Speaking to industry leaders, Trump emphasized that winning the AI race requires a “new spirit of patriotism” in Silicon Valley.
“We want our tech companies to be all in for America. You must put America first,” Trump added.
He even criticized the term artificial intelligence, calling it misleading:
“It’s not artificial—it’s genius.”
Targeting India and H-1B Visas
India has long been a hub for tech outsourcing, supplying skilled engineers and IT professionals to Silicon Valley. Trump’s remarks, however, are the latest in a series of actions targeting India’s tech ties with the U.S.:
- In May 2025, Trump warned Apple against manufacturing iPhones in India, threatening a 25% tariff on imports.
- The administration has already scrapped the H-1B visa lottery system in favor of a weighted model, making it harder for Indian professionals and students to secure U.S. jobs.
These policy shifts come as India’s domestic tech sector struggles with rising unemployment and fewer job opportunities for graduates.
India’s Tech Sector Feels the Pressure
The Indian IT industry, already facing competition from automation and AI, now has to grapple with rising restrictions from one of its biggest markets—America.
Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, which rely heavily on U.S. contracts, may soon feel the squeeze. And thousands of Indian professionals hoping to land jobs in Silicon Valley now face an uncertain future.
India’s outsourcing economy is also a key pillar of foreign exchange earnings, and any downturn in this area could impact GDP and investor confidence.
Geopolitical Implications
Trump’s repeated targeting of India, even as Washington views New Delhi as a strategic partner against China, reflects a growing strain in the relationship. While India continues to pursue trade deals with the U.K., EU, and other nations, the pressure from the U.S. may force India to rethink its tech and economic alliances.
Observers say this could be part of Trump’s broader push to bring manufacturing and tech jobs back to the U.S., a key theme of his 2025 campaign.
What Happens Next?
Industry analysts believe that tech companies may push back against these directives, arguing that global hiring is essential to innovation and scalability. However, Trump’s influence over federal contracts and tech regulations gives his administration leverage to enforce these changes.
For India, the challenge will be to diversify its tech exports, strengthen domestic job creation, and accelerate agreements with countries that value global talent mobility.
Conclusion:
As Trump tells Big Tech to stop hiring overseas, the ripple effects are already being felt across India’s massive tech ecosystem. With H-1B reforms, tariff threats, and anti-outsourcing rhetoric gaining momentum, both countries may be heading into a phase of tech decoupling that could reshape the future of global IT collaboration.
