Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok
“America First”: Trump Orders Google and Microsoft to Halt Foreign Hiring
President Donald Trump has once again adopted a hardline stance against Big Tech, signing three new executive orders and issuing a direct warning to Google and Microsoft: "Those days are over," he declared during an official White House announcement.
“American companies have been exploiting this nation’s freedoms while outsourcing jobs abroad. That stops now,” Trump stated.
Since the start of his second term, Trump has doubled down on mass deportation efforts and intensified nationalist rhetoric aimed at ending what he calls “foreign dependency at the heart of the American economy.” His latest move targets the international hiring practices of major U.S. tech companies, particularly regarding workers from India, China, and other Asian nations.
Tech Giants Under Fire
The President accused companies like Google and Microsoft of benefiting from U.S. legal and economic freedoms while outsourcing operations, building tech hubs overseas, and failing to generate jobs at home.
“They built factories in China, hired engineers in India, and sheltered profits in Ireland — all while claiming to support America. Enough is enough,” Trump said.
A New Nationalist Tech Agenda
The executive orders mark a significant shift in operational expectations for U.S. tech firms, enforcing a protectionist agenda aimed at job retention, domestic production, and U.S.-based innovation. The orders include:
Winning the Race
Focused on accelerating domestic AI infrastructure and eliminating regulatory barriers to U.S.-based innovation. It includes incentives for companies prioritizing local talent and production.
Political Neutrality in Tech
Trump seeks to dismantle Biden-era Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within public sector AI tools. He emphasized ideological neutrality and precision, warning companies of administrative penalties for violating new national hiring policies.
Global Leadership & Internal Supply Chains
Trump aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign suppliers, pushing for fully “Made in America” AI — from development and data storage to workforce composition.
"Not Artificial. Genius."
One of Trump’s most striking statements was his challenge to the very name of AI: “The term ‘artificial intelligence’ is wrong. It’s not artificial, it’s genius.”
The comment signals a broader rebranding strategy — one that reclaims AI as a symbol of American ingenuity, distancing it from the globalist narrative of cross-border collaboration.
From Globalization to Tech-Nationalism
Trump made it clear he intends to reclaim the U.S.'s leadership in the AI race, beating rivals like China and cutting off reliance on foreign labor and supply chains. He ordered tech giants to cease hiring from abroad immediately — particularly professionals from India and China.
“American companies must support America. Put America first. That’s all we ask,” he said.
China in the Crosshairs
Trump reiterated that his goal is to surpass China in AI supremacy, framing the challenge as one of sovereignty and national strength. He urged companies to abandon “globalist mindsets” and invest in American soil, talent, and values.
“We want companies that hire here, build here, and think about Americans first.”
He closed with a bold vision:
“AI will not belong to global elites or foreign rivals. It will be an American asset — renamed, rebuilt, and redefined.”
With this bold package, the Trump administration ushers in a new era of technonationalism, rejecting global interdependence in favor of innovation rooted in patriotic loyalty. Whether this pivot leads to renewed technological dominance — or strategic isolation — remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the era of "artificial intelligence," as we knew it, may be coming to an end.
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KELLY COUTO
