Trump on Hyundai-LG ICE Raid fallout: “We Will Ensure Korean Companies’ Talent Can Enter the U.S. Quickly and Legally”

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the recent immigration raid at Hyundai Motor Group–LG Energy Solution’s joint EV battery plant in Georgia, in which more than 300 Korean workers were arrested and detained, would not harm relations with South Korea.

Speaking to reporters on the 7th (local time) after returning to Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., from a trip to New York to attend the men’s finals of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Trump was asked whether the incident might strain U.S.–Korea relations. He replied:

“No, it won’t. We have a very good relationship with Korea.”

Trump emphasized:

“It’s a really good relationship. As you know, we just signed a trade deal with them.”

He further noted:

“If this country (the U.S.) has no experts on batteries right now, then we should help bring some of their people here temporarily so they can train our people in battery production, computer manufacturing, or shipbuilding, or other complex tasks.”

Trump added:

“We are going to review this entire situation. There are many industries we no longer have. We need to exchange personnel. The way to build capacity is to bring in skilled people for a limited time, let them stay, and have them help us. Then we must ensure our own people are trained so that Americans can eventually do it themselves.”

This comment is interpreted as Trump signaling willingness to address the visa shortage problem, long a complaint from Korean companies investing in the U.S., even as his administration pushes for large-scale foreign investment. Whether this marks the beginning of a solution to visa bottlenecks remains to be seen. Trump said:

“I fully understand what the Koreans are saying, and I will look into it.”

On the same day, Trump also posted on his social media account, urging foreign companies investing in the U.S. to comply with immigration laws but promising to ease their difficulties in bringing in skilled staff. In the post, he wrote:

“After the immigration enforcement action at Hyundai’s Georgia battery plant, I call on all foreign companies investing in America to respect our immigration laws.”

He added:

“We welcome your investments. We encourage you to bring in your very smart and talented experts legally to help produce world-class products. And we will ensure that you can do so quickly and lawfully.”

Trump stressed:

“In return, what we ask is that you hire and train American workers. We will work hard together to make our country productive—and closer than ever.”

This was Trump’s second public response to the raid. In his first reaction, he had labeled the arrested Korean workers as “illegal immigrants” and defended ICE’s operation. His latest remarks, however, suggest a shift, acknowledging the visa issue and showing willingness to explore solutions.