Conservative activist Laura Loomer has sharpened her attack of X, formerly Twitter, owner Elon Musk, accusing him of “totalitarian censorship” on Saturday for her criticisms of H-1B visas, which Musk supports.
Newsweek has reached out to Musk via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Loomer, a loyal Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporter, has taken to social media to criticize the debate over H-1B visas as she has taken aim at Musk for his remarks on supporting H-1B visas, which allow employers to hire skilled workers from other countries for specialized jobs which require college degrees or significant experience.
Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX who has been appointed by the President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the “Department of Government Efficiency” or (DOGE), alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, has been a staunch ally and financial backer of Trump’s in this year’s election cycle.
However, most recently Musk, a South African naturalized U.S. citizen, is finding himself at odds with MAGA supporters over H-1B visas as they have long pushed for stricter immigration policies.
What To Know
In a Saturday post on X, Loomer shared a screen recording of posts over H-1B visas and accused Musk of “totalitarian censorship” claiming that labeling the posts on the platform as “probable spam” is retaliation for criticisms of the policy.
“@elonmusk why are you labeling 75% of the replies on my account as ‘probable spam’? This is an abuse of power & everyone in MAGA needs to call this behavior out. This is not what we voted for. This is totalitarian censorship and retaliatory behavior over protected free speech,” Loomer wrote.
Loomer previously accused Musk of “full censorship” after her premium account on the social media site was deactivated.
She is not the first to accuse Musk of censorship as at least 14 conservative accounts said late Thursday or Friday that X had revoked their blue verification badge, according to NBC News.
While Musk has not responded to the accusations, he posted Thursday what he called “a reminder” on X, writing that the site’s algorithm automatically reduces the reach of a user if they’re frequently blocked or muted by other credible users.
“If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly,” he wrote.
A rift over H-1B visas erupted after Loomer criticized Trump’s appointment of Indian-born entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as his senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence (AI). On X, Loomer noted Krishnan had previously argued that the H-1B visa should be expanded, which she claimed was “in direct opposition” to the Trump agenda.
Musk, meanwhile, defended legal migration in an X post on Friday.
“The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he wrote.
Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, has benefited from the H-1B program personally and professionally. He first came to the United States on a J-1 academic visa that he says transitioned into an H-1B. Tesla is also among the companies to rely on the program, having hired 724 H-1B workers in 2023.
However, MAGA evangelists, like Loomer, believe Musk’s influence within Trump’s circle serves his own interests. On X, Loomer singled out Musk and his tech allies, including Box CEO Aaron Levie and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, alleging that the new DOGE initiative for government efficiency is just a cover for sending funds to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
What Are People Saying
Loomer on Thursday via X: “President Trump’s most loyal fighters with the biggest audiences in MAGA are all anti-Big Tech and we are nauseated with Big Tech bros who think we are peasants and dumb. The Big Tech sleepovers & fake love fest at Mar-a-Lago will be over soon you guys. Just hold the line.”
Ramaswamy on Friday posted on X: “I’ve said it countless times in the last 2 years & will say it again: the H-1B system is badly broken & should be replaced with one that focuses on selecting the very best of the best (not a lottery), pro-competitive (no indentured service to one company), and de-bureaucratized.”
Sidharth Ram, a data architect and immigrant from Chennai, India, wrote in a post on X: “Anyone opposing high-skilled immigration is fundamentally anti-American. This nation was built by immigrants who drove innovation, from Albert Einstein revolutionizing science to Sergey Brin reshaping technology. High-skilled immigrants create jobs, fuel economic growth, and ensure America stays ahead globally.”
He added: “Groups like #USTECHWorkers, operating with shady funding from external forces and amplified by figures like Laura Loomer, are nothing more than propaganda machines designed to weaken America’s competitive edge. Their agenda isn’t about protecting jobs—it’s about stoking division and fear.”
What Happens Next
While Musk’s approach to H-1B visas is at odds with the cultural and economic protectionism espoused by those in the MAGA movement, it is unclear what Trump plans to do regarding H-1B visas.
Trump suggested during an interview on the All-In podcast in June that international students graduating from American universities should be given green cards.
“If you graduate or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country,” he said.
Once in office, Trump could struggle to placate those in business who believe skilled legal migration boosts the U.S. economy and those of his supporters who think it takes place at the expense of American workers.
The post Laura Loomer Sharpens Attack on Elon Musk: ‘Totalitarian Censorship’ appeared first on Newsweek.
