**Why Trump’s Photo with the US Physics Olympiad Team Is Causing a Furore**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | September 23, 2025, 8:00 pm*
A recent photograph of US President Donald Trump with the 2025 US Physics Olympiad team has ignited a heated debate surrounding immigration and meritocracy in the United States. The image, shared by Trump’s assistant Michael Kratsios on X, features Trump alongside five immigrant-origin students who collectively won five gold medals at the International Physics Olympiad in July—marking the team’s greatest achievement in history.
### The Photo That Sparked Controversy
While celebrating the team’s outstanding performance, the photo simultaneously drew intense scrutiny for highlighting a perceived contradiction in Trump’s immigration policies. Critics argue that Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applicants could severely hamper the ability of talented immigrants—like these Olympiad winners—to contribute to the US.
On social media, users voiced their concerns about this inconsistency. One commenter noted, “This picture alone should be enough to explain why the H-1B program is important for the US.” Another pointedly remarked, “LOL! Zero ‘ethnic white Americans’ on the physics team. One Russian, one Indian, and the rest Chinese—all non-white immigrants from the three most hated countries in this country.”
### Meet the Team
The five-member US Physics Olympiad team includes Agastya Goel, Allen Li, Joshua Wang, Feodor Yevtushenko, and Brian Zhang. Agastya Goel, an Indian-origin student whose father is a Harvard professor, attends Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California. Beyond excelling in physics, Goel is actively involved in his school’s tennis team and choir.
### Defending the H-1B Visa Policy
In response to the backlash, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf defended the administration’s stance on H-1B visa reform. Lutnick explained that the policy aims to protect American jobs by discouraging companies from outsourcing training to foreign workers. Scharf further clarified that the new rules will allow only the most highly skilled foreign workers—those who cannot be replaced by American employees—to enter the country.
### Conclusion
The photograph of President Trump with the immigrant-origin Physics Olympiad team has sparked a multifaceted debate on the role of immigration in American success stories. While celebrating the achievements of these young scientists, the image also brings to light complex policy discussions about how the US balances protecting domestic labor markets with attracting global talent.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/trump-s-pic-with-physics-olympiad-team-sparks-debate-on-immigration/story
