A dispute over immigration and tech industry hiring practices has ignited a conflict within the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement, leading to accusations that Elon Musk is retaliating against critics on his social media platform, X. The controversy centers on the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations.
The conflict escalated when Laura Loomer and other far-right figures criticized Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy for supporting H-1B visas, alleging they displace American workers. Following these criticisms, Loomer and others reported losing their verification badges and monetization capabilities on X, formerly known as Twitter, leading them to claim that Musk was silencing dissent.
Loomer, a vocal critic of Musk's stance on immigration and China, expressed frustration at the apparent removal of her blue check mark. She and other MAGA figures like Owen Shroyer, Ryan Fournier, and Kylie Jane Kremer said they experienced similar account restrictions after criticizing the tech billionaire's policies. While X has not officially commented, Musk seemed to address the situation by labeling accounts engaging in coordinated attacks as spam.
The dispute highlights a growing rift between the grassroots Trump supporters and tech leaders, an alliance that had been strained by differing stances on immigration and labor. The appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-American venture capitalist, as an AI advisor to Trump, further exacerbated the situation. Musk, in a controversial move, appeared to agree with a post disparaging American workers, which further fueled the divide.
This latest development underscores the fragility of the MAGA coalition, as tensions rise over the competing interests of its factions. While Trump himself has not weighed in directly, the online feud continues to expose deeper divisions and create questions surrounding the future of this alliance.
