Trump always talks about American workers, the people who built this country. Now, as the U.S. tries to get its factories back up and running, Trump has a thought. He wants foreign companies not just to put money here, but also to share their know-how, their experts, and skills. He wants them to teach Americans how to do the work, even improve upon their processes, he says. It’s a pretty strong idea and shows what’s up. Right now, America has a problem: we’re building factories, but we lack enough people who know how to run them.
We Need Skilled Workers For a while now, lots of money has been spent building new factories, like those making computer chips in Arizona and Ohio, tech places in Texas, and shipbuilding in the Gulf states. The money is there, and the buildings are being built. But people keep asking: where are the workers to fill these jobs?
Reports say we’re short on skilled labor. The Semiconductor Industry Association thinks we might need over 60,000 skilled workers by 2030. That’s a big problem. That’s where Trump’s thought comes in. He thinks foreign companies that are starting up here, many from Asia and Europe should bring their best people. They can train U.S. workers until they can handle things themselves. Basically, share what they know. Factories are great, but skills are really what matter.
Politics This isn’t just about the economy. It fits with Trump’s message. He’s been saying for years that globalization hurts American business and took jobs from workers. Now, he’s saying: let’s get foreign investment, but ensure it makes Americans stronger. That sounds good to voters. It makes sense. Foreign companies can come with their money and expertise, but American workers will learn those skills and maybe get better at them. Trump likes to say, “We’ll be better!”
The Truth But it’s not that easy. Companies don’t always want to give away what makes them successful. Will a South Korean chipmaker or a German shipbuilder just share years of knowledge? Will they train workers who might become their rivals? That’s a valid question. It has happened before. Japanese car companies have been training U.S. workers for years in their American factories. Toyota and Honda factories in Kentucky and Ohio are mostly staffed by locals who learned from Japanese managers. So, it can work. It just needs to happen more, maybe with some help from the government.
A Chance The timing is good. The U.S. is putting money into bringing back important businesses. The pandemic showed us that trusting global supply chains is not wise. Washington wants things like chips and medicines made here. But building a factory is the easy part. Getting the skills takes longer. Trump’s thought reminds us that just putting in money isn’t enough. If America still needs to fly in foreign experts every time something breaks, we haven’t really rebuilt our businesses. To be ready, we need workers who know what they’re doing.
The People This is about more than just numbers. It’s about people. Imagine a young person in Ohio, or a steelworker in Pennsylvania who lost their job. If foreign experts can teach them skills, they get more than just a paycheck. They get a skill and something to pass on. That’s what this is all about. It’s about giving Americans the ability to compete again, and to get back the confidence that business once gave this country.
What Happens Next? Will it happen? Maybe. Foreign companies might not like it, unless Washington gives them tax breaks. Some companies might be happy to do it, seeing well-trained local workers as a bonus. Others might be careful, wanting to keep their secrets. But the point is clear. The U.S. can’t just rebuild factories without also rebuilding skills. Machines don’t run themselves. People do. And if Americans aren’t trained to take over, being an independent industrial power will only be half done.
For Trump, the message is simple: Foreign companies can help rebuild America, but only if they also help Americans learn how. And, he puts it simply: “We’ll be better!”
