Bannon Calls for Investigation into Musk’s Immigration Status
Steve Bannon, a former White House adviser, has urged President Trump to look into Elon Musk’s immigration status and consider deporting tech billionaires from South Africa after Musk’s recent comments about him became quite hostile.
Bannon was quite adamant, stating, “I strongly believe he is an illegal alien, so they should start a formal investigation into his immigrant status,” during his remarks to the New York Times. He added that Musk should be deported soon.
The tensions escalated between Musk and Trump on Thursday, fueled by a dispute regarding a major legislative proposal that aligns with Trump’s agenda. This back-and-forth reached a peak during Bannon’s webcast, “Bannon’s Warroom.”
Bannon didn’t hold back, saying, “Elon Musk is illegal and he has to go. Is he illegal? He’ll be deported soon.” He provocatively suggested starting with South Africans, alluding to the Trump administration’s longstanding stance on immigration enforcement.
Musk, who has contributed significant financial support—around $250 million—for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, previously moved to Canada before becoming a U.S. citizen while building his tech empire, which includes companies like SpaceX and Tesla.
Last year, the Washington Post reported that Musk might have worked illegally in the U.S. prior to obtaining citizenship, raising questions that Bannon and others have started to pursue.
Bannon has also cited Musk’s reported drug use as potential grounds for deportation, referencing a New York Times article discussing Musk’s alleged substance use.
Recently, the relationship between Trump and Musk appears to be deteriorating, particularly due to a Trump-supported initiative currently under congressional review. Musk has described the situation as “nasty hatred,” while Trump has defended the proposed legislation.
Bannon expressed his support for withdrawing significant government contracts from Musk, stating, “It requires dramatic action. We’ll pull out all the contracts right away.” He criticized Musk’s latest attacks on Trump, which he viewed as aggressive and uncalled for.
“President Trump has given him more power than anyone in this government has ever been empowered, and he has his back,” Bannon argued. He added that he’s warned Trump about Musk’s potential unreliability, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and Musk’s recent tweets against Trump.
