Economist Stephen Moore joined Chicago’s Morning Answer with Dan Proft to break down President Trump’s UN address, the administration’s support for Argentine President Javier Milei, and new debates over immigration and H-1B visas.
Moore said Trump’s speech to world leaders stood out for its blunt criticism of what he called “climate change hysteria.” He praised Trump for directly challenging Europe and Asia over their energy policies, arguing that reliance on wind and solar had led to higher costs and energy insecurity. By contrast, Moore pointed to America’s surge in oil, gas, and coal production under Trump as a driver of lower fuel prices and industrial competitiveness.
On Argentina, Moore described Milei’s reform push as a crucial test for free-market principles in Latin America. He credited Milei with slashing inflation and stabilizing the peso but acknowledged the political risks of his “shock therapy” approach, which has already drawn sharp opposition from the left. Moore noted that Argentina was once among the wealthiest nations in the world, and suggested dollarization could help the country break free from decades of economic decline.
Turning to U.S. policy, Moore criticized Trump’s proposal to raise fees on H-1B visas, warning it could undermine America’s advantage in attracting global talent. He argued that many of the nation’s top tech leaders—including CEOs of Google, Microsoft, and Tesla—came to the U.S. on H-1B visas, and said immigrants in these programs create far more jobs than they take. While acknowledging isolated cases of abuse in the system, Moore stressed that demographic realities make immigration essential, with 11,000 Americans retiring daily and only about 8,000 young workers entering the labor force. Without immigration, he warned, the U.S. economy risks stagnation.
Moore closed by highlighting the broader success of immigrant communities in America, noting that Hispanic and Asian households now outpace whites in income growth. For him, these trends undercut arguments about systemic racism and reinforce the value of immigration as an engine of prosperity.