The debate within the MAGA movement over visas for highly skilled workers continues to escalate, with prominent figures accusing Elon Musk of retaliating against critics on his social media platform, X. The issue centers around the H-1B visa program, which Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has staunchly defended despite opposition from loyal Trump supporters.
Musk Defends H-1B Program
Musk, tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency under President-elect Donald Trump, has voiced strong support for the H-1B visa program. In contrast to Trump’s critical stance, Musk argues that the U.S. needs foreign talent to maintain its competitive edge. “If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be,” Musk wrote on X. He also emphasized that attracting the top 0.1% of engineering talent through legal immigration is “essential for America to keep winning.”
However, Musk’s pro-H-1B position has drawn backlash from conservative figures such as far-right activist Laura Loomer, commentator Ann Coulter, and former Representative Matt Gaetz. These Trump loyalists accuse Musk and his incoming co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy of betraying the movement by supporting immigration policies they view as harmful to American workers.
Accusations of Retaliation on X
In a controversial turn, members of the right-wing Conservative PAC allege Musk retaliated against critics by stripping their accounts of verification badges on X. Among those affected is Laura Loomer, who has over 1.4 million followers. Loomer claims her verified status and ability to gather paying subscribers were removed because of her opposition to the H-1B program. She labeled Musk a “free speech fraud.”
Preston Parra, chairman of Conservative PAC, reported that 53 accounts affiliated with the organization lost their verification badges. The group suggested Musk targeted them for speaking out against H-1B visas, posting on X: “We spoke out against H-1B visas, and it appears that @elonmusk intentionally shut us down.”
Musk Responds to Criticism
Musk dismissed Loomer’s claims, accusing her of “trolling for attention” in a post on X before she lost her verification badge. He has not publicly addressed the broader allegations from Conservative PAC, leaving critics to interpret his actions as a crackdown on dissent within his platform.
MAGA vs. Big Tech
This controversy has further fueled tensions between MAGA supporters and tech leaders like Musk. Parra stated, “If anyone thinks for one minute the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA is gonna stand idly by while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs… steal our country, they’re mistaken.”
The fallout reflects a growing rift between MAGA loyalists and Silicon Valley, as the debate over immigration and free speech intensifies.
