Kathrine Frich
He claimed Musk posed a national security concern due to allegations of drug use.
He claimed Musk posed a national security concern due to allegations of drug use.
Bannon Drops a Bombshell on Musk
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s controversial former chief strategist, ignited a firestorm this week by publicly accusing Elon Musk of being an “illegal alien.”
In a fiery phone interview, Bannon didn’t hold back, calling for Musk to be deported immediately and urging Trump to launch a formal investigation into the tech billionaire’s immigration status.
The Billionaire’s Citizenship Timeline
Elon Musk was born in South Africa in 1971, moved to Canada in 1989, and eventually settled in the United States to attend the University of Pennsylvania.
He became a U.S. citizen in 2002. Despite this well-documented path to citizenship, Bannon is now questioning the legitimacy of Musk’s immigration paperwork.
‘Suspend His Security Clearance’
Bannon didn’t stop at deportation. He also demanded the White House suspend Musk’s security clearance.
He claimed Musk posed a national security concern due to allegations of drug use and reports, denied by Musk, that he sought classified information about China from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Musk vs. Trump: A Public Feud Escalates
This dramatic turn comes amid a public fallout between Musk and Trump.
Once seen as close political allies, the two have clashed over what Trump calls his “big, beautiful bill”, a sweeping legislative effort Musk has publicly criticized.
Trump responded with fury, accusing Musk of turning on him “months too late.”
Musk Fires Back: ‘Pure Propaganda’
Musk has flatly denied the claims, dismissing The New York Times’ coverage as “pure propaganda.”
He also pushed back against rumors about his drug use, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated.
“They’re desperate,” he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
DOGE Days Are Over
Musk had been tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during Trump’s second term, but the relationship has since soured.
With Musk’s departure and growing dissent over Trump’s economic plans, Bannon’s latest attack seems to signal a deepening rift within MAGA ranks.
Bannon’s Longstanding Grudge
This isn’t Bannon’s first swipe at Musk. He has previously called the SpaceX and Tesla CEO a “parasitic illegal immigrant.”
Now, with Trump’s re-election ambitions heating up, Bannon appears to be drawing a line in the sand, turning immigration rhetoric inward on one of America’s most prominent entrepreneurs.
Trump Sounds Off on Truth Social
Trump himself took to Truth Social, saying:
“I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago… If this Bill doesn’t pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that.”
While he didn’t echo Bannon’s deportation call, Trump made it clear: Musk is no longer in his corner.