Supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump have clashed with Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and their tech allies over a controversial issue: immigration. On one side, Musk and his Silicon Valley supporters are pushing for immigration reforms based on merit. On the other side, Trump's loyal followers, who are against immigration, view Musk's stance as a betrayal of their populist beliefs.

The rifts within the MAGA camp emerged after Musk supporter and Indian-origin venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan was named head of the upcoming Trump administration's artificial intelligence strategy. Trump supporters stoked a social media controversy by bringing up Mr Krishnan's earlier remarks calling for the removal of the country’s caps on skilled immigration green cards. Social media commentator Laura Loomer, who leans far right, called Krishnan's appointment "deeply disturbing." Her critique sparked a conflict between the two groups after being boosted by verified accounts on Musk's social media site X.

Musk, who himself entered the country on an H-1B visa, has continuously promoted the idea of luring top talent from around the world. He contends that America's capacity to attract the brightest minds on the planet is essential to its technical and economic supremacy. "If you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be," Musk posted on X. Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been recently appointed as the co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency by Trump, agreed with Musk's views. The son of Indian immigrants, Mr. Ramaswamy said that American culture has often valued mediocrity more than excellence. "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ... will not produce the best engineers," he posted on X.

These actions have led to criticism from some of Trump's strongest supporters. Loomer, along with far-right figures like Ann Coulter and former Congressman Matt Gaetz, blamed Mr. Musk and Mr. Ramaswamy for harming American workers. One viral post on X called Krishnan an "India First" operative, claiming his goal was to "replace American workers." Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also joined the debate, arguing that the US should put more emphasis on funding American talent. Posting, "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture," she refuted Ramaswamy's criticism.

Trump's stance on immigration has been confusing, as it has changed over time. During his first term, his administration imposed strict limits on H-1B visas. However, in recent statements, he has shown more support for immigration. For example, in a podcast interview earlier this year, he said he would support granting green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. universities. This change in his position has left many of his supporters uncertain about what his immigration policies will look like in the future.