WASHINGTON, DC, USA – Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO and co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency, ignited a firestorm within conservative circles after his online defence of the controversial H1B visa programme led to a heated exchange with social media users and criticism from former Trump strategist Steve Bannon.
The controversy began Friday, December 27, 2024, when Musk liked a post on his platform, X, that described Americans as too “retarded” to fill the tech workforce and praised H1B visas for bringing in “better educated” talent from abroad.
Musk’s Fiery Response
The post triggered backlash, with an X user, Steven Mackey, sharing a 2021 video of Musk discussing innovation at SpaceX and applying the billionaire’s logic to the H1B programme, suggesting it “could be something that shouldn’t exist.”
Musk responded within minutes, defending H1B visas and his own immigration journey:
The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B.
Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2024
“The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B,” Musk wrote.
He then added a scathing personal attack, saying, “Take a big step back and F— YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”
MAGA Figures React
Musk’s outburst drew criticism from high-profile conservative figures, including Steve Bannon, who ridiculed the tech leader on Gettr.
“Someone please notify ‘Child Protective Services’—need to do a ‘wellness check’ on this toddler,” Bannon wrote.
Mackey, the original target of Musk’s anger, responded diplomatically, stating, “I personally am fine with reforming H1B, and as I’ve stated multiple times today, I am incredibly grateful you and many others are in the country because of H1B.”
Despite Musk’s harsh words, Mackey added, “I personally am the biggest fan of Elon on the planet and I always will be.”
Other users, however, were less forgiving.
One wrote, “Elon, how are we supposed to trust you with defence contracts when you publicly threaten millions of Americans? This is way scary, dude.”
Another added, “You have too much power to behave in Demon Mode with us. It’s terrifying. You can space laser us, or something. Yikes.”
Grok and the H1B Debate
Musk’s AI, Grok, was also pulled into the debate after a user asked whether Musk himself had entered the U.S. on an H1B visa.
Grok responded, “No, Elon Musk was not an H1B visa worker. He is a South African-born Canadian-American entrepreneur who moved to the United States on an F-1 visa for education and later became a U.S. citizen.”
This clarification added another layer to the backlash, with critics accusing Musk of hypocrisy for his aggressive defence of a programme he did not personally use.
Steve Bannon refers to Elon Musk as a toddler. pic.twitter.com/VETEBec7ha
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 28, 2024
Ramaswamy Adds Fuel to the Fire
Musk’s co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Vivek Ramaswamy, further inflamed tensions with a Boxing Day post criticising American culture for “venerating mediocrity over excellence.”
His remarks, which praised academic and intellectual achievement over traditional social and athletic accolades, were seen by many as a rebuke of conservative values.
Fallout Among MAGA Supporters
Musk and Ramaswamy’s comments have led to a growing rift with MAGA loyalists, some of whom accused the tech moguls of abandoning the “Make America Great Again” ethos.
Several users reported losing their blue verification checks on X after publicly criticising Musk, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, who called the platform’s actions “a restriction of free speech.”
As the controversy unfolds, Musk’s defence of H1B visas has cast a spotlight on his complex relationship with the conservative base that once celebrated his leadership at X.
The billionaire’s escalating rhetoric has only deepened the divide, leaving his political and cultural alliances in question as he faces mounting criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
