Smith disputes the figures behind Vance's Microsoft accusation
Brad SmithBrad Smith, Microsoft president, in a BBC interview released October 11; recording date not established
BBC reports Smith saying most visa applications concerned existing employees and every green-card applicant already worked for Microsoft. He says the company also hired 9,000 Americans the previous year.
“got the maths wrong”
Interview
Where this statement fits
Did Microsoft replace laid-off American workers with H-1B workers, as JD Vance claims?
JD Vance accused Microsoft of replacing laid-off Americans with foreign workers and announced a suspension of its PERM filings. Microsoft says most of its H-1B applications concerned employees it already employed.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
BBC's original episode page summarizes Smith's response to Vance and identifies the presenter and production team. October 11 is the release date; the recording date is not established.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The episode description identifies Vance's accusation about Microsoft's use of H-1B visas.
After the quotation
Smith distinguishes applications involving existing staff from hiring and cites the company's American hiring.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Microsoft's alleged replacement of American workers through visa programs. Smith challenges the interpretation of the figures used to support that allegation.
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More from this case
Read the full caseGralla rejects the administration's accusations against Microsoft
“Nothing could be clearer: Trump’s and Vance’s charges against Microsoft are lies.”Read statement
Anderson challenges Vance's fixed-jobs reasoning
“promoted what economists call the lump of labor fallacy”Read statement
Wang challenges the one-for-one replacement inference
“Layoffs and hiring are not one for ones of each other, especially at giant companies like Microsoft”Read statement
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- Smith disputes the figures behind Vance's Microsoft accusation
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The Dispute Index. "Smith disputes the figures behind Vance's Microsoft accusation". First published: 2026-10-29. Last updated: 2026-10-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/7163-bbc-reports-smith-saying-most-visa-applications-concerned