Elon Musk’s Past Immigration Status Resurfaces Amid Trump Support
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, recently made headlines for both his past immigration status and his vocal support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
A report by The Washington Post revealed that Musk may have worked illegally in the U.S. during the 1990s while attempting to establish his first company, Zip2. Musk arrived in Palo Alto, California, in 1995 to attend Stanford University but never enrolled in the graduate program. Instead, he focused on developing Zip2, which was sold for approximately $300 million in 1999. Two immigration law experts indicated that Musk needed to be enrolled in a full course of study to maintain valid work authorization as a student.
As Musk’s political involvement has grown, he has actively supported Trump, particularly leading up to the November 5 election. In a recent town hall event in Pennsylvania, Musk addressed various topics, including immigration, space exploration, and mental health. While endorsing Trump, he downplayed the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, claiming it was not an insurrection. His remarks garnered applause from attendees, although the violent nature of the event, which resulted in injuries to over 100 law enforcement officers, has been widely condemned.
Musk’s endorsement of Trump aligns with his significant financial contributions—over $70 million—to support the former president’s campaign. He has urged voters to participate in early voting while expressing skepticism about mail-in ballots, which he labeled a “recipe for fraud.” Despite the safeguards in place for mail-in voting, Musk echoed Trump’s criticisms of the method.
At the town hall, Musk also addressed questions from attendees, including concerns about the potential implications of Trump’s re-election for democracy in the U.S. While acknowledging the validity of these concerns, he defended Trump’s actions on January 6 and asserted that those who criticize Trump as a threat to democracy pose a greater danger.
The event was marked by Musk’s diverse commentary, ranging from his views on artificial intelligence regulation to his belief in the historical existence of Jesus. In an eye-catching moment, he presented a $1 million check to a voter as part of a promotional initiative by his super PAC, aimed at encouraging support for the U.S. Constitution.
Musk’s growing influence in politics, especially through his support of Trump, highlights the intersection of technology, finance, and governance in contemporary America.
