In a recent interview conducted by FOX anchor Laura Ingraham, President Donald Trump defended the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields such as technology and engineering. The program was designed to address gaps in the domestic labor market by permitting firms to bring in talent for up to three years when equivalent skills are not available among U.S. citizens. When Ingraham suggested that such talent might exist within the American workforce, Trump dismissed the idea, arguing that the U.S. simply does not produce enough qualified candidates.

            That comment sparked backlash within the MAGA movement, exposing a tension between Trump’s populist base and his pro-business instincts. Many supporters felt betrayed by his endorsement of a program often criticized for displacing American workers and depressing wages.     Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has announced legislation to eliminate the H-1B program altogether.

            Trump’s defense of H-1B visas, however, points to a deeper issue: America’s chronic underperformance in STEM education. If the U.S. truly wants to reduce reliance on imported talent, it must begin by cultivating its own.

            The challenge is compounded by a severe teacher shortage, especially in math and science. Schools across the country struggle to hire qualified educators, particularly in rural and low-income districts. Even when teachers are available, they face large class sizes, administrative burdens, and limited resources. This creates a vicious cycle: students receive inadequate instruction, fall behind, and lose interest in STEM. As fewer students pursue these fields, the pool of future educators and professionals is further limited.

            This problem has persisted for decades. What is new is the potential of artificial intelligence to break the cycle. One of the most prominent innovators in this space is Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. His nonprofit platform has long provided free, high-quality instructional videos in subjects ranging from arithmetic to differential equations. More recently, Khan has advanced this mission with Khanmigo, an AI-powered tutor and teaching assistant designed to personalize learning for every student.

            Khanmigo functions as a real-time learning companion. For students, it offers interactive tutoring that emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving, guiding  learners through complex math problems, assisting with computing tasks, and providing  feedback on writing assignments. For teachers, Khanmigo helps with lesson planning, grading, and mentoring, easing the burdens that often drive educators out of the profession.

            Perhaps Khanmigo’s most promising feature is its ability to replicate the benefits of one-on-one tutoring at scale. Until now, individualized tutoring was prohibitively expensive and logistically impossible for most schools. AI changes that;   every student can have a personal tutor that adapts to their pace, learning style, and needs. This is especially valuable in math, where gaps in understanding compound over time. A student who struggles with fractions in fifth grade may find algebra incomprehensible in eighth. AI can identify these gaps early and provide targeted support, preventing long-term academic failure.

            In classrooms where teachers are stretched thin, AI can take on routine tasks such as grading quizzes or generating lesson plans, freeing educators to focus on mentoring and motivating students. The goal is not to automate education but to enhance it—making teachers more effective and students more engaged.

            Ultimately, math must be treated as a language. Mastery comes through practice, and fluency permits exploration of  STEM fields; giving them a try without a language barrier.  With AI tools like Khanmigo, students can discover whether they enjoy these fields, develop their abilities, and whether to pursue them as college majors and careers. Without that language, they remain outsiders in a world increasingly defined by science and technology.