In a recent episode of his War Room podcast, Steve Bannon made an emphatic call for a complete freeze on all immigration into the United States, a position that has become increasingly controversial amid a growing rift within the Republican Party. Bannon’s call for a “100% moratorium on all immigration” represents the latest salvo in a larger ideological battle that pits the hard-right wing of the Trump base against prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who advocate for more flexibility in allowing high-skilled workers to enter the country on H-1B visas.
Bannon, who has long been an outspoken critic of what he sees as uncontrolled immigration into the United States, used his platform to reiterate his call for a complete shutdown. On his War Room podcast, Bannon stated, “100% moratorium on all immigration until we get this thing sorted!” He has voiced similar sentiments on other platforms, including Gettr, the right wing social media site where he frequently posts after being banned from Twitter in 2020.
Bannon’s hardline stance on immigration aligns with his broader nationalist and populist worldview. He views the current state of immigration as a threat to American workers and a burden on the country’s resources. According to Bannon, the U.S. must halt all immigration until it can “sort out” its domestic issues. “We’re fighting for something that means something,” Bannon said.
While Bannon advocates for more populist, America-first policies, tech billionaires like Elon Musk and political figure Vivek Ramaswamy have championed a more business-friendly approach, one that includes greater reliance on high-skilled immigration to fuel the U.S. economy.
Bannon, displeased with Musk’s policies, has criticized the tech mogul, even referring to him as a “toddler” in a pointed attack. Musk, in turn, has fired back, vowing to “root out the contemptible fools” within MAGA circles, making it clear that he’s willing to take on those who disagree with his more open approach to immigration.
“We didn’t come in here in June, and we’re not saying, just ‘cause you came late,’” Bannon said on the podcast. “No, you can be part of this, but you’re not going to sit here and lie to us, to our face and expect to say nothing, because you’re worth $500 billion.” Bannon’s remarks reflect the tension between the grassroots MAGA movement—represented by figures like himself—and the elite, often Silicon Valley-driven, version of conservatism represented by figures like Musk and Ramaswamy.
Bannon, known for his unapologetic style, made it clear that he is undeterred by Musk’s wealth and influence. “You people are taking money. Take money. I don’t care. Bow down and kowtow. I don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” he declared. Bannon’s words highlight his populist, anti-elite stance—one that seeks to reject what he sees as a corruption of conservative values by the wealthy and powerful, including figures like Musk.
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