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The internal divisions within the MAGA movement deepened as Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist, ramped up criticism of Elon Musk and the H-1B visa program. On his War Room podcast Monday, Bannon called for reparations to American tech workers allegedly displaced by foreign labor brought in under the program, while also demanding the mass deportation of H-1B visa holders. The controversial remarks come amid an ongoing feud between anti-immigration hardliners and tech billionaires within the MAGA coalition.
"The workers that are here on H-1B visas should be deported alongside the 15 million illegal aliens Biden brought across the border to suppress wages," Bannon said. "American workers should be hired immediately to fill those gaps, and then we should start the discussions on reparations for what they knowingly did to American tech workers."
The H-1B visa program, enacted under the Immigration Act of 1990, allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers for specialized roles. While it has long been a target of anti-immigration advocates, the program recently reignited tensions after Musk publicly defended it, prompting backlash from far-right voices like Bannon and Laura Loomer, a frequent guest on his show.
Loomer, an outspoken critic of Musk, claimed the tech magnate is influencing Trump's advisors to dilute the America First agenda. "Does he really support MAGA, or is he trying to push a neo-reactionary movement to establish tech feudalism?" she asked during the broadcast. Loomer also accused Musk of retaliating against her by demonetizing her X account and stripping her verification badge after she criticized his stance on H-1B visas.
The conflict underscores the broader challenges facing the MAGA movement as it attempts to reconcile divergent interests within its coalition. Musk, who has been a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, sought to de-escalate tensions by calling for reforms to the visa program. "The program is broken and needs major reform," Musk tweeted, proposing higher salaries for H-1B workers and additional fees to make domestic hiring more competitive.
Bannon, however, dismissed Musk's conciliatory tone, claiming it highlighted the tech mogul's lack of resolve. "This is not a civil war because they're not tough enough," Bannon said, deriding Musk's earlier claim that he would "go to war" over the issue. "He folded-it was embarrassing."
The escalating rhetoric has drawn attention to deeper ideological fractures within the MAGA base, particularly between traditional populist-nationalist figures like Bannon and tech-friendly factions aligned with Musk. The divide threatens to complicate Trump's efforts to maintain unity as he prepares to assume office in January.
Trump, who has largely avoided taking sides in the dispute, offered tepid support for the H-1B program in a recent interview. He has "always been in favor of the program," Trump told the New York Post, despite campaigning against it in 2016 and introducing restrictions during his first term. The statement has fueled speculation about the president-elect's willingness to mediate between the competing factions within his base.
Meanwhile, Bannon's push for reparations has drawn criticism for conflating the issue of legal immigration with broader economic grievances. Reparations have traditionally been associated with addressing historical injustices like slavery, and extending the concept to H-1B visas represents a significant departure from mainstream political discourse.
www.btimesonline.com
"The workers that are here on H-1B visas should be deported alongside the 15 million illegal aliens Biden brought across the border to suppress wages," Bannon said. "American workers should be hired immediately to fill those gaps, and then we should start the discussions on reparations for what they knowingly did to American tech workers."
The H-1B visa program, enacted under the Immigration Act of 1990, allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers for specialized roles. While it has long been a target of anti-immigration advocates, the program recently reignited tensions after Musk publicly defended it, prompting backlash from far-right voices like Bannon and Laura Loomer, a frequent guest on his show.
Loomer, an outspoken critic of Musk, claimed the tech magnate is influencing Trump's advisors to dilute the America First agenda. "Does he really support MAGA, or is he trying to push a neo-reactionary movement to establish tech feudalism?" she asked during the broadcast. Loomer also accused Musk of retaliating against her by demonetizing her X account and stripping her verification badge after she criticized his stance on H-1B visas.
The conflict underscores the broader challenges facing the MAGA movement as it attempts to reconcile divergent interests within its coalition. Musk, who has been a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, sought to de-escalate tensions by calling for reforms to the visa program. "The program is broken and needs major reform," Musk tweeted, proposing higher salaries for H-1B workers and additional fees to make domestic hiring more competitive.
Bannon, however, dismissed Musk's conciliatory tone, claiming it highlighted the tech mogul's lack of resolve. "This is not a civil war because they're not tough enough," Bannon said, deriding Musk's earlier claim that he would "go to war" over the issue. "He folded-it was embarrassing."
The escalating rhetoric has drawn attention to deeper ideological fractures within the MAGA base, particularly between traditional populist-nationalist figures like Bannon and tech-friendly factions aligned with Musk. The divide threatens to complicate Trump's efforts to maintain unity as he prepares to assume office in January.
Trump, who has largely avoided taking sides in the dispute, offered tepid support for the H-1B program in a recent interview. He has "always been in favor of the program," Trump told the New York Post, despite campaigning against it in 2016 and introducing restrictions during his first term. The statement has fueled speculation about the president-elect's willingness to mediate between the competing factions within his base.
Meanwhile, Bannon's push for reparations has drawn criticism for conflating the issue of legal immigration with broader economic grievances. Reparations have traditionally been associated with addressing historical injustices like slavery, and extending the concept to H-1B visas represents a significant departure from mainstream political discourse.
Steve Bannon Escalates Feud with Elon Musk, Calls H-1B Visas a ‘Scam’ and Demands Worker Reparations
The internal divisions within the MAGA movement deepened as Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist, ramped up criticism of Elon Musk and the H-1B visa program. On his War Room podcast Monday, Bannon called for reparations to American tech workers allegedly displaced by foreign labor brought in...
www.btimesonline.com
