Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Trump Honors Nadella as Vance Targets Microsoft Over H-1B Visas
President Trump gave Microsoft leader Satya Nadella a major technology award.
Earlier that day, Vice President Vance said Microsoft was suspended from a programme related to green cards for skilled workers with H-1B visas.
Vance accused Microsoft of laying off American workers while receiving many work visas and green cards.
Microsoft said most of its applications were for workers already employed by the company.
Trump also gave awards to five other technology leaders.
Five of the six award recipients were born outside the United States or immigrated there.
The events showed different parts of the administration’s approach to technology companies and immigration.
Trump praised the honorees for supporting American innovation, including artificial intelligence.
President Donald Trump presented Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation on Thursday.
Earlier, Vice President JD Vance announced Microsoft was suspended from a programme connected to green-card applications for skilled H-1B workers.
Vance alleged Microsoft laid off 6,000 U.S. workers while obtaining 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards last year.
Microsoft said most of its H-1B applications last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of existing employees.
Trump also honored Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, Jensen Huang, Lisa Su and Michael Dell; five of the six recipients were born abroad or immigrated to the United States.
- Who
- Donald Trump, Satya Nadella, JD Vance, Microsoft and five other technology leaders.
- What
- Trump honored Nadella with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation as Vance announced Microsoft’s suspension from a programme tied to green-card applications for H-1B workers.
- When
- Thursday; the articles were published October 9, 2026.
- Where
- The awards ceremony took place at the U.S. Institute of Peace; Vance made his announcement at a news conference.
- Why
- Trump praised Nadella’s contributions to Microsoft and technology. Vance said Microsoft had abused the visa system and should hire more American workers.
Vance's criticism
Microsoft's response
Microsoft's use of worker visas
Vance's criticism
Vance accused Microsoft of abusing the visa system, citing U.S. layoffs alongside H-1B visa and green-card figures, and said the company should hire more American workers.
Microsoft's response
Microsoft said most of its H-1B applications last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of existing employees; the articles do not provide a detailed response to Vance's wider allegations.
Administration's approach to technology and immigration
Vance's criticism
Vance said the administration should scrutinize immigration and foreign-worker programmes and alleged that hiring foreign workers had come at the expense of American workers.
Microsoft's response
Trump praised technology leaders, including immigrant honorees, for their contributions to American innovation and said the country should lead in technology development.
- Award to Satya Nadella
- National Medal of Technology and Innovation
- Other recipients
- Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, Jensen Huang, Lisa Su and Michael Dell
- Vance's stated figures
- Vance said Microsoft laid off 6,000 U.S. workers, obtained 6,300 H-1B visas and nearly 3,000 green cards last year.
- Microsoft workforce
- 223,000 employees worldwide, according to the articles.
- Microsoft's response
- The company said most of its roughly 6,000 H-1B applications last fiscal year were to extend or change the status of existing employees.
- Programme
- The suspension concerned a programme that allows companies to apply for green cards for skilled foreign workers holding H-1B visas.
- Recipients born abroad or immigrants
- Five of the six honorees: Nadella, Musk, Brin, Huang and Su.
Sources
Trump Honours Microsoft CEO With Top Tech Medal After Vance Drops H-1B Hammer On Firm
Trump Honors Microsoft’s CEO After Vance Drops an H-1B Visa Hammer on the Company
Trump awards Satya Nadella as US suspends Microsoft from PERM green-card programme
