Donald Trump's recent nomination of Sriram Krishnan as senior policy advisor for Artificial Intelligence has ignited significant backlash, drawing both widespread criticism and staunch defense from prominent figures. The controversy is particularly fueled by false allegations and fears about immigration, showcasing the broader polarization surrounding the former president's cabinet choices.
The appointment sparked immediate reactions on social media, where misunderstandings and outright misinformation began to surface. David Sacks, Trump's nominee for White House AI and Crypto Czar, emerged as a vocal defender of Krishnan. He characterized the criticism against Krishnan as part of what he called a "cabal," driven by outdated narratives and calculated divisiveness. Sacks shared on X (formerly Twitter), "This whole cabal against Sriram is totally out of control. There’s no self-serving agenda whatsoever here, nor character flaws. We should celebrate people like Sriram who are going to leave so much $ on the table to serve the country. Enough of this nonsense.”
Krishnan's nomination was formally announced last week, yet the backlash escalated quickly, with far-right commentators leading the charge. Notable figures, like Laura Loomer, expressed concerns tied to immigration, alleging Krishnan's nomination posed threats relating to H1B visas. This response was not only steeped in misinformation about Krishnan's citizenship but also included unfounded claims about his financial support for political figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sacks responded to these incidents with clear frustration. "A recap of the past few days: A woman was burned alive by an illegal migrant on the NY Subway. The whole country was unified in its outrage. Everyone wants to seal the border and stop migrant crime," he articulated. Sacks went on to note the sudden shift of the conversation from serious immigration issues to what he dubbed as unfounded fears about employment-based immigration, stating, "When I corrected the record, the lies just shifted, including to some nasty attacks claiming he wasn’t even a US citizen."
The attacks against Krishnan, Sacks noted, are indicative of a larger "division grift" aimed at distracting from actual pressing issues related to illegal immigration. He added, "The number of illegal aliens per year is over 3 million. The number of employment visas annually, on the other hand, is just 140,000. Maybe we should focus on the 95% where we all agree.”
Crucially, Krishnan’s role as senior policy advisor is focused on enhancing American leadership within the rapidly-evolving field of Artificial Intelligence, as emphasized by Trump during the nomination announcement. Trump stated, "Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI, and help shape and coordinate AI policy across Government." This emphasis on private-sector talent reflects the administration's strategy to leverage experts like Krishnan for public policy innovation.
Despite his role being unrelated to immigration, the backlash has inevitably reignited the conversation about U.S. immigration policy and the flaws within the visa system. Many critics have tied Krishnan's appointment to long-standing frustrations surrounding the H1B visa program, which many believe prioritizes specific countries, leaving others to navigate long backlogs for green cards. Under current laws, the quota allocation disregards population size, leading to discrepancies like India, home to 1.4 billion people, receiving the same number of green cards as the comparatively minuscule Marshall Islands.
Krishnan, along with influential individuals such as Sacks and Elon Musk, has been vocal about attracting global talent, advocating for systems to strengthen the American economy, which runs contrary to the criticisms levied against him. The backlash he faces points to prominent themes of immigration fears, especially among factions aligned with Trump's political ideology.
David Sacks holds firm on his defense of Krishnan, urging Americans to recognize the personal sacrifices and contributions made by individuals like Krishnan. Sacks succinctly reiterated, “We should celebrate people like Sriram who are going to leave so much $ on the table to serve the country.” This statement encapsulates the broader narrative: the need to separate individual appointments from larger systemic issues to promote constructive dialogue about immigration and its role within the U.S. economy moving forward.
