(Image source from: REUTERS)
Supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump have clashed with Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and their tech allies. At the heart of this conflict is the polar issue of immigration. On the one hand, Mr. Musk and his allies in Silicon Valley are standing up and advocating for merit-based immigration reform. Trump supporters committed to an anti-immigrant stance, meanwhile, view Musk's stance as a betrayal of populist ideals. The rift in the MAGA camp arose after Sriram Krishnan, an Indian tycoon and Musk ally, was named head of AI policy in the new Trump administration. Mr. Krishnan's previous comments about lifting the national cap on green cards for skilled immigrants were drowned out by Trump supporters and sparked a firestorm on social media. Far-right social media commentator Laura Lommer called Krishnan's appointment "deeply disturbing." His criticism was amplified by Musk's verified account on the social media platform X, laying the groundwork for a confrontation between the two sides.
Mr Musk, who himself immigrated to the US on an H-1B visa, has always championed the idea of attracting the world's best talent. He argues that America's technological and economic advantages depend on its ability to attract top talent from around the world. “If you want your team to be a champion, you need to hire great people everywhere,” Musk wrote in X. Vivek Ramaswamy, President Trump’s new head of government efficiency, echoed Musk’s sentiments. Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, argues that American culture has long valued middle age over superiority. "A culture that praises prom queens more than math Olympiad champions... will not produce the best engineers," she wrote on X. But those positions drew backlash from Trump's most loyal supporters. Loomer accused Musk and Ramaswamy, along with far-right figures like Ann Coulter and former Rep. Matt Gatz, of undermining American workers.
Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, also joined the fray, arguing that the U.S. should prioritize investment in American talent. He criticized Ramaswamy's criticism, writing: "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture." Trump's inconsistent stance on immigration has added to the confusion. His first administration imposed significant restrictions on H-1B visas, but recent statements suggest a more flexible approach. In a podcast interview earlier this year, President Trump supported issuing green cards to foreign graduates of American universities. The shift has left many of his supporters skeptical about the future direction of his immigration policy.
