Elon Musk vows to “go to war” to defend H-1B visa program

Elon Musk has received support from President-elect Donald Trump for his stance on H-1B visas, a day after the tech billionaire vowed to “go to war” to defend the program that brings skilled foreign workers into to be brought to the USA.

Musk, who was tapped by Trump to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) along with Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, argued last week that foreign workers are needed for tech companies like Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla.

On December 27, Musk criticized a user on “The reason I am in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that have made America strong is because of H1B,” Musk wrote on X .

He also used a profane quote from Tom Cruise’s character in the movie “Tropic Thunder” to attack his critics.

“Take a big step back and fuck yourself in the face,” Musk said.

Trump sided with Musk on Saturday, saying he fully supported the program opposed by some of his supporters.

“I’ve always liked the visas, I’ve always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump told the New York Post newspaper.

“I have many H-1B visas for my properties. I believed in H-1B. I have used it many times. “It’s a great program,” Trump said.

The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Tech companies rely on hiring tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

The tech industry has long called for more H-1B visas to attract highly skilled workers to the United States. Trump’s first administration restricted the program in 2020, arguing that it allowed companies to replace Americans with lower-paid foreign workers. Musk, who once held an H-1B visa himself and whose electric vehicle maker Tesla has hired workers through the program, defended the tech industry’s need to hire foreign workers.

“Everyone – no matter what race, creed or nationality – who came to America and worked like hell to contribute to the well-being of this country will forever have my respect. America is the land of freedom and opportunity. Fight with every fiber of your being to keep it that way. “Gone!” he wrote on X on Friday.

Musk also criticized those who put personal gain above the well-being of the country.

“This is the right position for those who want America to win. I have no respect for those who want America to lose for personal reasons. Zero,” he said in a separate post.

Musk has regularly posted posts on X in support of the program.

“There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent. This is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley,” Musk wrote on X on December 25.

Several of Trump’s supporters and immigration hardliners are increasingly pushing for the elimination of the H-1B visa program amid the debate over immigration.

The debate erupted when Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer, criticized Trump’s selection of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his incoming administration. Krishnan supports the possibility of bringing more skilled immigrants to the United States.

Loomer said this stance was “not an America First policy” and said the tech executives who joined Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. The debate intensified when Ramaswamy criticized American culture for promoting mediocrity rather than focusing on academic excellence and success based on merit.

“Trump’s election hopefully marks the beginning of a new golden era in America, but only if our culture fully awakens. A culture that once again values ​​performance over normality; Excellence instead of mediocrity; nerdiness instead of conformity; “Hard work instead of laziness,” Ramaswamy said on Thursday.

He faced backlash for this comment.

In response, Musk called for “despicable fools” to be removed from the Republican Party who oppose his immigration agenda.

Musk later clarified that his statement was aimed at the “hateful, unrepentant racists” he sees as a threat to the future of the Republican Party.