Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, filed an H-1B application for a worker in June 2022, despite Donald Trump’s earlier public criticism of the visa program. The application listed an annual salary of $65,000 and was later approved, according to The Associated Press. TMTG said it did not hire the worker and that it terminated the process in November 2022; a Labor Department spokesperson told AP the department had no record of a withdrawal request.
What did Trump’s Truth Social company apply for?
The application was for an H-1B worker—not a visa for Trump personally. TMTG, the company behind Truth Social, filed it in June 2022. AP reported that the filing listed a $65,000 annual salary, an Atlanta job location, and co-founder and former operations executive Will Wilkerson as the employer representative. AP characterized $65,000 as the lowest wage category permitted under the program.
Federal immigration data showed the application was approved a few months after filing, AP reported. Approval is a stage in the process; it does not establish that the worker was ultimately hired or that a visa was issued and used.
What happened to the application?
The company’s account and the agency record AP described concern different actions. TMTG said the application had been made under prior management and that current management terminated the process in November 2022 after learning about it. The company also said it never hired the worker.
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Separately, a Labor Department spokesperson told AP that the department had no record of TMTG requesting a withdrawal. AP also noted that USCIS records data does not show when visas are revoked. The reported company statement about terminating the process is therefore not the same as a documented government withdrawal or revocation.
Why did the filing draw attention?
The application attracted scrutiny because Trump had criticized H-1B visas. During a 2016 primary debate, he called the program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. In a longer quotation reproduced by AP, Trump said: “First of all, I think and I know the H-1B very well. And it’s something that I frankly use and I shouldn’t be allowed to use it. We shouldn’t have it,” and then added, “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.” Those were remarks from 2016, not a new statement about this application.
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AP also reported that three months into his presidency, Trump issued the “Buy American and Hire American” executive order, directing Cabinet officials to suggest reforms that would prioritize the highest-paid or most-skilled H-1B applicants. That is historical context, not a description of the current H-1B selection rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the $65,000 salary does—and does not—show
The $65,000 figure is the salary listed on TMTG’s application, as reported by AP in 2024. By itself, it does not establish that the filing violated wage requirements. AP explained that H-1B employers must pay the higher of the prevailing wage or the wage paid to similarly qualified workers. The reported application figure alone does not show how those comparisons applied to this position.
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This account concerns a 2022 application and does not explain current H-1B eligibility, selection, or visa rules. For present-day requirements, consult current official guidance; the U.S. State Department’s visa news page listed multiple policy updates in 2026.
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Timeline
- June 2022: TMTG filed the H-1B application, listing $65,000 annual pay, AP reported.
- A few months later: Federal immigration data showed the application was approved, according to AP.
- November 2022: TMTG said current management terminated the process after learning about the application; the company said it did not hire the worker.
- As reported by AP: A Labor Department spokesperson said the department had no record of a withdrawal request.
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