WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, fissures are emerging within his coalition, marked by a growing rift between Elon Musk and his Silicon Valley allies and Trump’s hardcore Republican backers. The central issue causing this discord is immigration, specifically the H1-B visas that allow companies to bring foreign workers with specialized skills to the United States.
Elon Musk, who himself came to the US from South Africa on an H1-B visa, is a fervent advocate for these permits. The world’s richest man, who financially supported Trump’s election campaign and has become a close adviser, emphasized the importance of welcoming elite engineering talent from abroad. On December 26, Musk posted on social media platform X, stating that such talent is “essential for America to keep winning.”
However, Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by Trump as Musk’s co-chair on a new advisory board on government efficiency, suggested that companies prefer foreign workers because they lack an “American culture,” which he claimed venerates mediocrity. Ramaswamy warned that without a change in attitude, “We’ll have our asses handed to us by China.”
Skepticism over the benefits of immigration is a hallmark of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. The remarks by Musk and Ramaswamy have angered immigration hawks, who accuse them of ignoring US achievements in technological innovation. Incoming White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller posted a 2020 speech in which Trump praised American “culture” for its contributions to technological advancements.
Trump has historically voiced opposition to H1-B visas, calling them “unfair for our workers” during his first presidential run in 2016, despite acknowledging his own use of foreign labor in his businesses. While he placed restrictions on the system during his first term, these curbs were lifted by President Joe Biden.
The tension between Musk and MAGA supporters has been characterized by Politico as “Musk v MAGA.” Many MAGA figures have been advocating for a complete closure of America’s borders while addressing the issue of illegal entries. They hope for reassurance from Trump that he remains firm in his “America First” stance.
Some long-time loyalists believe Silicon Valley has already inserted itself too deeply into MAGA politics. Scandal-hit congressman Matt Gaetz, who was forced to withdraw after being nominated by Trump to run the Justice Department, expressed frustration with the tech industry’s influence on immigration policy.
When Musk nearly derailed a bipartisan deal to set the 2025 federal budget, Democrats used the term “President Musk” to mock Trump, who is sensitive about being upstaged. Critics point to the chaos in Trump’s first term as a potential indicator of further strife.
Far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a prominent MAGA figure, expressed her concerns about the influence of technocrats on Trump. Loomer, who had a seat on Trump’s campaign plane, has since complained of censorship after being stripped of her paying subscribers on X, owned by Musk.
As Trump prepares to take office, it remains to be seen whether these internal conflicts can be resolved or if they will lead to further divisions within his coalition.