Biden Calls Out Elon Musk as an ‘Illegal Worker’ Amid Trump Alliance and Immigration Debate

At a campaign stop in Pittsburgh, President Joe Biden reignited the immigration debate by taking aim at Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, labeling him a former “illegal worker” in the U.S. Biden’s remarks, delivered to a union-heavy crowd, come as Musk aligns himself more closely with Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

Musk’s Immigration Past Under Scrutiny

Biden pointed out the irony of Musk’s stance on immigration, given his own murky path to U.S. residency. In the mid-1990s, Musk arrived in the U.S. on a student visa, ostensibly to attend Stanford University. However, he quickly pivoted to launching his first startup, Zip2, without proper work authorization.

Documents uncovered by The Washington Post reveal that early Zip2 investors were alarmed about Musk’s immigration status, rushing to secure his work visa to prevent potential deportation. Musk later leveraged his entrepreneurial success to obtain permanent residency and build a tech empire, culminating in his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures.

The Irony of Musk’s Rhetoric

Musk’s rise to become the world’s richest man is a classic immigrant success story. However, his vocal support for Trump’s restrictive immigration policies, including mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship, has drawn criticism. Musk has repeatedly amplified anti-immigration rhetoric on X (formerly Twitter), citing undocumented immigrants as a burden on the U.S. economy and floating debunked claims about voter fraud by noncitizens.

Biden’s comments highlight the disconnect between Musk’s immigrant origins and his current stance. “It’s ironic that someone who benefitted so much from America’s openness is now parroting policies that would deny others the same opportunity,” Biden said, drawing applause.

A Broader Immigration Debate

Musk’s evolving views reflect a larger national conversation on immigration as Trump outlines sweeping changes for his second term. Trump’s proposals include:

• Mass Deportations: Removing millions of undocumented immigrants.
• Ending Birthright Citizenship: Limiting citizenship to those born to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Restricting Legal Immigration: Tightening visa requirements for workers and families.

These policies have sparked fierce debate, with immigration advocates warning of economic and humanitarian consequences, while Trump supporters argue they are necessary to secure borders and protect American jobs.

Musk and Trump: A Growing Alliance

Musk’s alignment with Trump has raised eyebrows, particularly as SpaceX becomes increasingly tied to U.S. defense operations. Critics question whether Musk’s public support for Trump’s policies is rooted in genuine belief or a strategic move to secure government contracts under a Trump administration.

The Political Fallout

Biden’s comments about Musk are part of a broader campaign strategy to contrast his administration’s immigration policies with Trump’s. While Biden has faced criticism for his own handling of the border, he has consistently emphasized the economic and cultural benefits of immigration.

Musk, meanwhile, remains a polarizing figure—celebrated for his innovations but scrutinized for his political rhetoric and controversial leadership style.

What do you think about Biden’s comments on Musk’s immigration past? Does Musk’s story highlight the complexities of the immigration debate, or is it a case of hypocrisy? Join the conversation below!

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