The ongoing immigration debate within the MAGA movement erupted into a fiery exchange Friday as Steve Bannon took aim at Elon Musk, calling the billionaire a “toddler” and challenging him to “bring it” over their starkly opposing views on H-1B work visas.
Bannon, former Trump adviser and host of the War Room podcast, slammed Musk on the social media platform Gettr after Musk lashed out at critics of his pro-immigration stance. Musk had defended H-1B visas as critical to building his companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, telling a critic to “take a big step back and f*** yourself in the face.”
Musk vs. MAGA on Immigration
Musk, a South African-born billionaire, doubled down on his support for skilled foreign workers, asserting that H-1B visas have been instrumental in making America a hub of innovation. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot comprehend,” Musk declared on X, formerly Twitter.
Bannon fired back, accusing Musk of betraying American workers. “H1B Visas are a TOOL of the Tech Oligarchs to Keep Wages Down While Destroying the Spirit of American Citizens,” Bannon wrote, adding, “American Jobs for American Workers.”
Ramaswamy Weighs In, Culture Critiqued
Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy joined Musk in defending H-1B visas but placed the blame for America’s reliance on foreign talent squarely on American culture. Ramaswamy criticized U.S. sitcoms for glorifying mediocrity over intelligence, saying, “More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers … more creating, less chillin’.”
The escalating debate underscores a growing rift within the right, as the pro-immigration views of Musk and Ramaswamy clash with MAGA’s “America First” ideology.
Musk Calls for Meritocracy, Bannon Responds
Musk further inflamed tensions by criticizing “hateful, unrepentant racists” within the Republican Party and emphasizing the importance of meritocracy. “America rose to greatness because it was a meritocracy,” Musk said. “I will fight to my last drop of blood to ensure it remains a land of freedom and opportunity.”
Bannon responded with defiance, writing on Gettr: “Bring.It.Dude—All of It,” and accusing Musk of being part of a tech oligarchy out of touch with ordinary Americans. On his podcast, Bannon went further, dismissing Musk and other tech leaders as “nerds on the spectrum” who lack social skills and can’t handle criticism.
Musk Faces Backlash from Far-Right Figures
Adding fuel to the fire, far-right activists including Laura Loomer accused Musk of retaliation, alleging that his X platform removed their verification badges and monetization privileges after they criticized him.
As the feud rages on, the debate over H-1B visas and immigration policy continues to deepen divides within the conservative movement, pitting tech leaders against MAGA loyalists in a battle over America’s workforce and cultural identity.
