In a dramatic escalation of political rhetoric, former Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon has launched a startling campaign against the world's richest man. Bannon is publicly demanding that tech billionaire Elon Musk should be deported from the United States, citing his South African birthplace as grounds for removal.
The National Security Argument
Bannon's controversial claim centres on the assertion that Musk's foreign origins represent a potential national security risk. The firebrand political commentator made these incendiary remarks during a recent episode of his 'War Room' podcast, where he criticised Musk's significant influence over critical American infrastructure and media platforms.
'This is not just an immigration issue; it's a sovereignty issue,' Bannon stated, arguing that someone with such control over sectors like space technology and satellite communications should be a natural-born US citizen.
Musk's Established American Ties
This demand comes despite Elon Musk having lived in the United States for over two decades. He became a naturalised US citizen in 2002 and has since built his entire business empire—including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter)—on American soil.
Legal experts have been quick to dismiss Bannon's proposal as legally baseless. US immigration law does not provide for the deportation of naturalised citizens based on subjective claims of national security threats made by political commentators.
A Political Ploy or Genuine Concern?
Analysts suggest this move is likely more about political theatre than a serious policy proposal. Bannon, a key architect of Trump's 2016 'America First' campaign, has long used immigration as a central theme in his political messaging.
The timing is particularly notable given Musk's increasingly vocal political opinions and his platform's influence on public discourse. Some view this as an attempt to undermine Musk's credibility among conservative audiences.
Whether this story gains traction beyond Bannon's core supporters remains to be seen, but it certainly adds another layer to the complex relationship between tech billionaires and political power brokers in modern America.
