Elon Musk recently criticized the H1-B visa program as “broken” and proposed a potential solution shortly after declaring he would “go to war on this issue” and telling critics to “F— yourself.” As debates intensify within the MAGA base over the immigration program for highly skilled workers, Musk acknowledged some of the criticisms surrounding it.
‘The program is broken and needs reform’
Responding to claims that H1-B visas are used to hire low-wage programmers and developers, Musk suggested raising the minimum salary significantly and imposing an annual cost to maintain the visa. He argued that these changes would make it more expensive to hire overseas workers compared to domestic talent. “I’ve been very clear that the program is broken and needs major reform,” Musk stated.
He further expressed optimism about reforms made during the Trump administration, adding, “I’m confident that the changes will make America much stronger. A rising tide lifts all boats.”
Musk’s personal connection to H1-B visas
Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, entered the country on an H1-B visa and has frequently highlighted its importance. He maintains that visas are essential due to the shortage of U.S. citizens capable of fulfilling the tech industry’s needs.
Recently, Musk defended the program on X, saying, “The reason I’m in America, along with many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies, is because of H1-B visas.” He doubled down on his stance, writing, “Take a big step back and F— YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Musk also emphasized that the visas are necessary to attract “the top ~0.1% of engineering talent.”
Growing opposition and defense of H1-B visas
Criticism of H1-B visas resurfaced following the December 22 appointment of venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as senior policy adviser for artificial intelligence (AI) in the upcoming Trump administration. Critics like Laura Loomer expressed frustration over the perceived influence of “tech bros” with more lenient views on immigration within Trump’s inner circle.
Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy defended the program, which allows up to 65,000 skilled foreign workers into the U.S. annually. Proponents argue that it is essential for attracting top-tier talent to advance fields like AI. However, detractors claim the program is exploited by companies seeking cheaper labor.
Despite previously labeling the H1-B program as “very bad for workers,” Donald Trump recently expressed support for it. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties,” Trump stated in an interview with the New York Post. “I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.”
