Left-wing media and their political allies have developed a new strategy in their eternal quest to counter Donald Trump, this time attempting to drive a wedge between him and Elon Musk.
Musk's work in getting Trump elected has endeared him to the right and targeted him on the left. Most recently, left-wing celebrities like MSNBC's Joy Reid tried to get into Trump's shoes by derisively calling the SpaceX founder “President Musk.”
Following Mr. Reid's lead, many Democratic members of Congress moved to usurp the line. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut are among the group of politicians who have parroted Mr. Reade.
The accusations stemmed from Musk's vocal opposition to an earlier version of the House's continuing resolution to fund the government. The version that Musk first opposed was more than 1,500 pages long and included spending items that many Republican politicians called “pork barrels.”Eradication of wild pigsprogram and a designated fund to provide driver's licenses to juvenile delinquents.
Musk wasn't the only one to voice his opposition to the bill. Many Republicans voiced opposition, and the four-digit page ultimately died in favor of a shorter resolution.
But DeLauro and others believe it was Musk who influenced Republicans who didn't want the 1,500-page bill to be passed without anyone reading it.
“They got scared because President Musk told them, and President Musk said, 'Stop!'” Shut down the government! ’” DeLauro told House members during debate on the bill Dec. 19.
Right off the bat: 🇺🇸 Elon Musk slams Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
“The crazy lady with the purple hair is the head of the House Democrats who is responsible for spending taxpayer money.” pic.twitter.com/sPtg9tw1yU
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) December 20, 2024
This narrative permeated every corner of the left's echo chamber. MSNBC's Chris Hayes said Trump and Musk are “co-presidents,” but New York Congressman Dan Goldman disputed that term, saying Musk is the only He claimed to be the president.
“Elon Musk has Donald Trump in a vice,” said Representative Dan Goldman. “We need to face reality. We now have an Elon Musk president.” (Video: MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/32b1is1A0n
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) December 20, 2024
Efforts to push Musk into a leading role and separate him from Trump have managed to catch Trump's attention, although perhaps not yet entirely successful. He addressed them in a speech Sunday at Turning Point USA's AmFest in Phoenix, Arizona. (Related: Media's Elon Musk propaganda hides the real truth behind his sacrifices)
After praising Musk's Starlink satellites, Trump told the audience, “I can tell you this: He's not going to be president.” “I'm safe, you know why? No way, he wasn't born in this country,” Trump said with a laugh.
Trump: [Elon Musk] He won't become president. What I can tell you is; It's safe. Do you know why? That can't be true. he was not born in this country pic.twitter.com/YpgcGZ0jF4
— Asyn (@Acyn) December 22, 2024
Trump appeared to maintain a cheerful demeanor in the face of a divide-and-conquer strategy, but rifts between his MAGA base and Musk-friendly Silicon Valley newcomers to the Trump train There are signs that this is occurring.
A major divisive concern on both sides is the heated online debate over H-1B visas.
The H1B visa, the largest U.S. visa category, allows employers to hire skilled foreign workers and “permits the temporary employment of qualified persons who are not authorized to work in the United States.” It is something. According to to the Ministry of Labor.
Musk appears to be taking a pro-H1B stance, answering “correct” a user's assessment that a slowdown in skilled immigration could lead to less innovation in the United States.
correct
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2024
Vivek Ramaswamy, co-director of Mr. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), co-signed the opinion on Thursday, defending the introduction of the H1B, saying that the H1B is important because American-born Americans participate in a culture of mediocrity. argued that it was necessary.
“For too long (at least since the '90s, and probably longer) our American culture has worshiped mediocrity over excellence. It doesn't start in college, it starts at a young age. Mathematics “A culture that celebrates prom queens over Olympic champions and athletes over valedictorian doesn't produce the best engineers,” Ramaswamy tweeted.
The reason why top technology companies often hire foreign-born first-generation engineers rather than “native” Americans is not because of Americans' innate IQ deficit (a lazy and incorrect explanation). An important part of this can be summed up in one word: culture. Hard questions require hard answers, and if…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRAmaswamy) December 26, 2024
The tweet echoed a sentiment Musk expressed eloquently on Christmas Day when he wrote, “There are far too few extremely talented engineers and extremely motivated people in America.” There is. Mr. Musk said,doubleNumber of foreign-born engineers.
MAGA supporters like radio host Jesse Kelly pushed back. (Related: Democrats' new attacks on Trump and Musk are almost destined to backfire)
“White kids with good degrees can't find jobs and most don't even get a call back. It's happening. It's all around me. And it's happening. “We will never sell legal immigration to people when they are not. Period,” he wrote on Thursday.
White kids with good degrees can't find jobs and most don't even get a call back. That's happening. It's all around me.
And when that happens, we will never sell legal immigration to people. Until now. period.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 26, 2024
With 337 H1B applications approved for fiscal year 2022, Musk's Tesla ranks 27th among U.S. companies with H1B visa sponsorship.
Musk and Trump continue to have a back-and-forth, but despite their roles, they appear to remain on good terms for the time being.
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 19: Elon Musk greets Donald Trump during a viewing tour of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. He met with the next US president. SpaceX billionaire owner and President Trump confidante Elon Musk has been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, along with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
President Trump reposted Musk's tweet on his Truth Social platform and co-signed Musk's statement about the impending collapse of legacy media on Christmas Day.
