Elon Musk has given his not-so-polite verdict amid the ongoing online debate surrounding H-1B visa and immigration reform. In a fiery exchange with an alleged Donald Trump supporter, the Tesla boss dropped the ‘F-word’ as the conversation around the immigration policy continues to divide the GOP lawmakers and Republican voters. The billionaire was responding to a clip of him shared on X (formerly Twitter), where he discussed the limits of education with the upshot being that one should not “optimise something that shouldn’t exist”.

However, after a user named Steve Mackey used Mr Musk’s words to push the anti-H1-B rhetoric, the X boss stepped in with a flaming response.

“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,” wrote Mr Musk.

“Take a big step back and F**K YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added.

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

After being schooled by Mr Musk, the user attempted to pacify the situation by claiming that we was the biggest fan of the SpaceX boss

“There seems to be a lot of confusion about this interaction. I personally am the biggest fan of Elon on the planet and I always will be. I’m also capable of disagreeing with people I deeply respect and admire,” the user wrote.

Also Read | “My Stepdad Is Indian”: Elon Musk’s Ex Girlfriend Amid Racism Against Indians In US

‘Remove them, root and stem’

Notably, prior to the exchange, Mr Musk declared that “hateful, unrepentant racists” should be removed from the Republican Party “root and stem”.

Mr Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the co-heads of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s soon-to-be-inaugurated cabinet are batting for legal immigration through H1-B visas while allies like Laura Loomer have opened a front, demanding ban on any kind of immigration.

After Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, posted that MAGA Republicans were now “taking a page from Democrats on how to lose elections while feeling good about themselves, Mr Musk chimed in with the response.

“Yes. And those contemptible fools must be removed from the Republican Party, root and stem,” the X owner wrote, agreeing to Mr Adams.

The tech billionaire has long maintained that the US needs the best talent from abroad to come to America and innovate. However, his stand has put him at loggerheads with hardliner Republicans who fear that American jobs were being taken by outsiders.

Washington DC:

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed immigration hardliner and close aide, Stephen Miller, as his White House deputy chief of staff for policy. Confirming Millar’s appointment, Vice President-elect JD Vance on Monday, congratulated the incoming deputy chief of staff for policy on X, calling him “another fantastic pick by the president.”

Mr Miller was part of the president-elect’s first administration and served as his senior adviser and director of speech-writing at the White House. He was also a central figure behind several of Mr Trump’s policies on immigration, including the Muslim travel ban and the 2018 family separation policy.

Miller’s Stance On H-1B Visas

Known for his extremist rhetoric, Mr Miller was a frequent presence during the president-elect’s 2024 campaign, often seen speaking at Mr Trump’s rallies. Addressing Mr Trump’s infamous Madison Square Garden rally in New York which saw an attendance of nearly 19,500 Americans, Mr Miller told the crowd that “America is for Americans and Americans only” and promised to “restore America to the true Americans”.

Last year during an interview with the New York Times, Mr Miller asserted that if Mt Trump was re-elected, his administration would bring policies to restrict legal and illegal immigration. He also talked about plans to detain undocumented immigrants in camps while they await expulsion.

During Trump’s first administration, Miller helped in drafting the Cruz-Sessions bill that prohibited international students with a master’s or bachelor’s degree from working in H-1B status in the US for at least 10 years. 

Now in his new role in Trump 2.0, Mr Miller is expected to continue his advocacy for restrictive immigration policies, including limits on H-1B visas. He argues that the H-1B program can lead to American worker displacement and wage suppression.

Trump Administration And Immigration 

Trump administration’s stance on immigration has often been at odds with economic consensus, which shows that skilled immigrants and international students benefit the US economy. As president, Mr Trump did not enact any measures to increase access to H-1B visas, and his second term will likely be similar. Policies introduced during his presidency also saw a rise in visa denial rates and a narrowing of the definition of “speciality occupation,” reducing the positions eligible for H-1B workers.

In 2020, before Mr Trump left office, his administration published a restrictive H-1B rule, which was blocked by a court for violating the Administrative Procedure Act. As per a report by Forbes, the rule included numerous provisions to prevent companies from employing foreign-born scientists and engineers, such as changing who and what positions could qualify for an H-1B speciality occupation.

Taking his previous administration’s agenda forward, Mr Trump has also appointed former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan as his administration’s “Border Czar.” In a post on his Truth Social platform, the President-elect said that Homan would oversee the border security of the US along with maritime and aviation security. He also stated that Mr Homan would oversee deportation policies.

Together, Miller and Homan are anticipated to work closely in implementing the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration measures.

The Forbes report said that if President Joe Biden’s administration does not finalize the H-1B “modernizing” rule before he leaves the Oval Office, a new Trump administration could issue the H-1B rule with its priorities rather than those of the Biden team. 

As per the report, the new rule would likely be far more restrictive than the current H-1B regulation or what US Citizenship and Immigration Services proposed in October 2023.