In a fiery statement, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, declared his staunch support for legal immigration, particularly highlighting the significance of the H1B visa. Musk’s remarks came in response to criticisms of immigration policies, underscoring the contributions of immigrants to the American economy.
Musk stated, “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.” He then took a more aggressive tone, saying, “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 possibly comprehend.”
His passionate defense of legal immigration reflects his personal journey from South Africa to the United States, where he has significantly influenced the tech and automotive industries. Musk’s statement has sparked a wide array of reactions, with some praising his acknowledgment of the contributions of immigrants, while others criticize the intensity of his language. This outburst underscores Musk’s ongoing advocacy for immigration reform, particularly for policies that attract and retain high-skilled workers to the U.S.
Key Points:
Elon Musk’s Strong Stance: Musk passionately defends legal immigration, emphasizing its role in building companies like SpaceX and Tesla.
H1B Visa Advocacy: Credits his presence in America and the success of his companies to the H1B visa program.
Defensive and Aggressive Tone: Musk uses strong language to challenge critics of immigration, saying, “Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face.”
Commitment to Fight: Vows to “go to war” over the issue of legal immigration, indicating a deep personal and professional investment in immigration policy reform.
Impact on American Economy: Highlights how legal immigration has been a key factor in making America economically strong through innovation and entrepreneurship.
Controversy Over Visa Expansion
Social media posts by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy arguing in favor of expanding the visa program for highly skilled workers have set off a debate among supporters of President-elect Donald Trump over how the program should fit into the incoming administration’s aggressive immigration agenda.
Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tapped to lead his Department of Government Efficiency, defended companies who use workers on H-1B visas, arguing tech companies — including those owned by Musk — depend on foreign workers to operate. But their message rankled some of Trump’s most loyal defenders who expect his administration to crack down on immigration and promote American labor.
Trump restricted access to foreign worker visas during his first term and has targeted the H-1B program in past remarks. But during the 2024 campaign, Trump signaled openness to giving some foreign-born workers legal status if they graduated from a US university.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Musk said US tech companies need “double” the amount of engineers working in America today and compared the benefits of the program to a professional sports team recruiting the best talent from around the world.
“If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win,” Musk wrote on X.
“I am referring to bringing in via legal immigration the top ~0.1% of engineering talent as being essential for America to keep winning,” Musk wrote in another post on Thursday. “Thinking of America as a pro sports team that has been winning for a long time and wants to keep winning is the right mental construct.”
