USA: A significant rift has emerged within the MAGA camp, highlighting deep divisions over immigration policies, particularly following the appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-origin venture capitalist, to lead artificial intelligence policy in the incoming Trump administration.
The appointment of Krishnan has sparked a heated debate, pitting Elon Musk and his Silicon Valley allies against diehard Trump supporters. Musk, who himself immigrated to the United States on an H-1B visa, has been a vocal advocate for merit-based immigration reforms. He believes that attracting top global talent is crucial for America’s technological and economic dominance. On his social media platform X, Musk emphasized, “If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be.”
Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump’s newly appointed co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency and the son of Indian immigrants, echoed Musk’s sentiments. Ramaswamy argued that the U.S. culture often prioritizes mediocrity over excellence, stating, “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ… will not produce the best engineers.”
However, these views have been met with fierce resistance from Trump’s loyal base. Laura Loomer, a far-right social media commentator, labeled Krishnan’s appointment as “deeply disturbing” and accused him of being an “India First” operative aimed at replacing American workers. Other figures like Ann Coulter and former Congressman Matt Gaetz have also joined the chorus, accusing Musk and Ramaswamy of undermining American workers.
The backlash has been further complicated by Trump’s own inconsistent stance on immigration. While his first administration imposed significant restrictions on H-1B visas, his recent statements suggest a softer approach. Trump has expressed support for granting green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. universities, leaving many in his base uncertain about the future direction of his immigration policies.
Musk has sharply criticized the “hateful, unrepentant racists” within the Republican Party, calling for their removal. He responded to a post by Neera Tanden, President Joe Biden’s director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council, who highlighted the differential treatment of Indian Americans by the Republican Party. Musk’s comments were clear: “Those contemptible fools must be removed from the Republican Party, root and stem.”
