Growing political tensions between Elon Musk and far-right MAGA figures have drawn significant attention from political observers. Many suggest that a "MAGA civil war" has erupted between two factions that once worked hand in hand to secure President Donald Trump's re-election. At the center of this rift lies a divisive issue: the expansion of foreign worker visas.
A House Divided: Traditional MAGA vs. New MAGA
Political observers have divided both MAGA factions into two distinct groups.
- Traditional MAGA: Predominantly white, anti-immigrant, and focused on nationalist "America First" policies, this faction seeks to uphold white male supremacy and Christian values.
- New MAGA (DOGE): Named after the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk and pharmaceutical entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, this faction is mostly led by immigrant tech leaders. It champions filling high-skilled jobs with foreign workers, deemed cheaper and more motivated than Americans, while advocating for deregulating agencies that oversee the tech sector.
"Their shared commitment to the destruction of the current government is about the only overlap between these two factions," said historian Heather Cox Richardson in her newsletter Letters from an American. "With the campaign over, traditional MAGA and DOGE are ripping apart."
Richardson pointed to the splintering within Trump's coalition as a sign of deeper fractures within the Republican Party, suggesting that the feud could jeopardize Trump's ability to deliver on his promises.
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The Flashpoint: Krishnan's Appointment
A major source of tension arose from Trump's appointment of Indian-born tech executive Sriram Krishnan as senior AI policy advisor. Longtime MAGA activist Laura Loomer criticized Krishnan's support for expanding the H-1B visa program, which allows American companies to hire foreign workers without first prioritizing U.S. professionals.
Loomer and other critics claim the program replaces Americans with cheaper labor. Steve Bannon and Project 2025 collaborators have also advocated reducing or eliminating the program altogether.
Musk Defends Foreign Talent
Elon Musk, whose companies benefit from H-1B visas, defended Krishnan's appointment and emphasized the need for skilled foreign workers.
"The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low. Think of this like a pro sports team: if you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be," Musk wrote on X.
He argued that investing in American workers is expensive and time-consuming, while foreign workers are "happy to just be here" and cost less.
Ramaswamy's Controversial Remarks
Vivek Ramaswamy intensified the divide by criticizing American culture for promoting "mediocrity" over excellence. "American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long... a culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers," he stated.
The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024
The remarks sparked backlash from conservatives, including Nikki Haley, who countered, "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers."
Trump Aligns with Musk
On Saturday, Trump signaled support for Musk's immigration stance by telling the New York Post he had "always liked" H-1B visas and had hired foreign workers under the program. Musk, often dubbed Trump's "first buddy," has reportedly gained influence in Trump's policy decisions, following his significant financial contributions to the campaign.
Backlash from MAGA Loyalists
Traditional MAGA figures have accused Musk and other tech billionaires of exploiting Trump's base and straying from "America First" values. Laura Loomer charged, "I feel like many of them are trying to get into Trump's administration to enrich themselves and get contracts at the Department of Defense. This is not America First Policy."
Representative Matt Gaetz criticized the tech-focused faction, saying, "We welcomed the tech bros when they came running our way—we did not ask them to engineer an immigration policy."
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon echoed these sentiments as well, warning his social media followers that Musk is showing his "true colors" and calling for the H-1B visa program to be "zeroed-out."
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