Elon Musk Says H-1B Visa System “Broken”, Days After “Will Go To War” Promise

New Delhi: Elon Musk Says H-1B Visa System “Broken”, Days After “Will Go To War” Promise
In a heated and ongoing debate over immigration policy, tech billionaire Elon Musk has declared that the H-1B visa system, which allows highly skilled foreign workers to enter the United States, is “broken” and in dire need of “major reform.” This statement comes just days after Musk vowed to “go to war” to defend the program against its critics.
Musk, who himself migrated to the U.S. from South Africa on an H-1B visa, made his comments on the social media platform X, where he has been engaged in a fierce exchange with supporters of President-elect Donald Trump. The controversy erupted following Trump’s appointment of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy, a move that was met with significant backlash from anti-immigration voices within the MAGA base.
Calls for Reform
Musk suggested two key reforms to address the perceived issues with the H-1B visa program. He proposed raising the minimum salary significantly and introducing a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B visa, making it “materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically”.
“This can be easily fixed by raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically,” Musk wrote on X. He emphasized that these changes would help ensure the program rewards merit and prevents the exploitation of foreign workers.
Support from Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy, another Indian-American tech entrepreneur and incoming adviser in the Trump administration, has echoed Musk’s sentiments. Ramaswamy argued that American culture often prioritizes “mediocrity over excellence,” suggesting that this mindset hampers the country’s ability to produce top-tier engineers. “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ… will not produce the best engineers,” he posted on X.
Opposition from Trump Supporters
The support for H-1B visas from Musk and Ramaswamy has been met with fierce opposition from some of Trump’s supporters. Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer, criticized the appointment of Sriram Krishnan and accused Musk and Ramaswamy of undermining American workers. Loomer and other far-right figures, including Ann Coulter and former Congressman Matt Gaetz, have argued that the H-1B program allows companies to exploit cheaper foreign labor, thereby reducing job opportunities for American citizens.
Trump’s Stance
Despite the backlash from his base, President-elect Donald Trump has expressed support for the H-1B visa program. Trump, who has previously limited the use of these visas during his first presidency, stated that he has always been in favor of the program. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” he told The New York Post.
Escalating Tensions
The debate has highlighted a deepening ideological divide within the MAGA movement over immigration policy. Musk’s vow to “go to war” on the issue and his subsequent suggestions for reform have intensified the conflict. The clash between the tech industry’s push for skilled immigration and the populist nationalist wing of the Republican Party is likely to continue as Trump’s administration navigates these complex issues.