For Immigration Hawks Trump and Musk, H-1Bs Are an Exception

When Elon Musk nuked moderation measures on X, he likely didn’t expect to become the target himself of nativist attacks on foreign workers and the corporations that hire them.

To the extent he’s weighed in on immigration previously, it’s been to spread disinformation about migrant crimes and “open borders.” But in a social media fracas over H-1B visas around the holidays, Musk cast himself as a foil to fellow MAGA supporters of Donald Trump—and was later backed up by the incoming president.

If that came off as a surprise, it shouldn’t have.

For Musk, defending the ...