A Clash Over the H-1B Visa Program
The blistering debate over the H-1B visa program has sparked a public feud between tech mogul Elon Musk and populist firebrand Steve Bannon. At the heart of the conflict is Bannon’s accusation that Musk is prioritizing cheap foreign labor over American workers, undermining the very fabric of the nation’s middle class.
Bannon has been blasing the H-1B visa program as a “total and complete scam,” exploiting foreign labor to displace skilled Americans. He accused elites like Elon Musk of prioritizing profits over workers’ rights, demanding reparations for displaced Americans. Bannon called for ending exploitative programs and restoring middle-class stability, emphasizing his unwavering “America First” philosophy.
“I believe his agenda is how to become the first trillionaire,” Bannon told the WarRoom audience on Monday.
See this short clip from Monday’s WarRoom:
Bannon: When you have an America First movement—when the American citizen and the sovereign will of the American people are everything—then you must frame everything around what is best for the American citizen. If you adopt that perspective, your priorities change. pic.twitter.com/43j5JiuFzW
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) December 30, 2024
Bannon didn’t mince words to open Monday’s WarRoom program, claiming Musk’s agenda centers on personal gain. "If Elon Musk is number one thing was Doge for America First American citizens, this H-1B issue would be at the top,” Bannon declared. He accused Musk of aiming to become the nation’s first trillionaire by exploiting low-cost foreign labor under the guise of “reforming” the system.
Consider this from Bannon’s Monday morning WarRoom:
Bannon: I haven’t seen a single example from the millions claimed. If they had one, they’d rub our noses in it. This is about exploiting cheap labor—indentured servants by Silicon Valley’s oligarchs. It’s techno-feudalism, rejecting the nation-state for their own interests. pic.twitter.com/8NTP78SxVZ
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) December 30, 2024
The Fight for American Workers
Bannon’s foundational belief is clear: American jobs should go to American citizens. He sees the H-1B visa program as a “total and complete scam” designed to displace skilled U.S. workers in favor of cheaper labor. "They always want to pay the cheapest wages,” he said, pointing to corporate greed as a driving force.
His message to Musk and other elites? Stop undermining the American workforce. "We’re not talking about reform. We want it gone,” Bannon emphasized, calling for the complete abolition of the H-1B program and demanding reparations for displaced U.S. tech workers.
Musk Under Fire
Bannon also accused Musk of hypocrisy and capitulation. "From fighting to the death, they went to, ‘Yes, the system needs reform,’” he said, dismissing Musk’s calls for minor adjustments as weak.
The Bigger Picture
For Bannon, this battle is obvioulsy about more than visas. It’s about defending the middle class from what he called "sociopathic overlords” in Silicon Valley. His America First ethos drives his fight against policies prioritizing corporate profits over national sovereignty.
Bannon’s parting shot? "We can do this with the citizens we have in this nation. It’s revolting. Your hypocrisy—I find it repulsive.”
For more context, watch the full opening to Monday’s WarRoom:
