Trump: I use visas that are ‘very bad’ for American workers

by Jesse Byrnes - 03/10/16 9:36 PM ET

Trump decries H1B visa and then admits he uses it. "I'm a businessman, I have to do what I have to do." #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/1ARGSCesDv

— Mashable News (@MashableNews) March 11, 2016

Donald Trump admitted on Thursday night that he’s taken advantage of migrant visas for highly skilled foreign workers while arguing that they hurt American workers and should be abolished.

“I know the H-1B very well. It’s something that I, frankly, use,” Trump said during the Republican presidential debate in Miami, adding that he “shouldn’t be allowed” to take advantage of the visa program.

{mosads}”Very, very bad for workers. And second of all, I think it’s very important to say — well, I’m a businessman, and I have to do what I have to do,” Trump said.

“It’s sitting there, waiting for you,” Trump said. “But it’s very bad for business — it’s very bad for our workers, and it’s unfair for our workers and we should end it.”

CNN reported earlier on Thursday that Trump’s modeling agency has profited from the H-1B visa program that the GOP front-runner opposes.

Trump drifted away from the position on H-1B visas listed on his website during the GOP debate last week, saying he was “softening” his position “because we need to have talented people in this country.”

He had been opposed to increasing the number of permits provided annually, and after the debate quickly issued a statement walking back his remarks and insisting he remained opposed to the program.

“I remain totally committed to eliminating rampant, widespread H-1B abuse and ending outrageous practices such as those that occurred at Disney in Florida when Americans were forced to train their foreign replacements,” Trump said in a statement from his campaign last week.

Marco Rubio knocked Trump over that double reversal, calling him “clueless on so many issues.”

Trump insisted Thursday night in the latest GOP debate that the government should take one to two years to examine “plans that work” in handling highly skilled foreign workers.

Tags 2016 GOP primary Donald Trump GOP debates Marco Rubio