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“Take a big step back and F— YOURSELF in the face.” It’s not every day a billionaire tech mogul uses a Tropic Thunder quote to wade into the treacherous waters of U.S. immigration policy. Elon Musk, the man behind Tesla, SpaceX, and a social media platform that’s like Lord of the Flies with algorithms, dropped the line while defending the H-1B visa program. He’s got a point—even if it is a bit harsh. Right wingers saying they want to toss Elon out of the MAGA coalition need to take a step back. Elon’s not a dude playin’ the dude, disguised as another dude. He’s a REAL African-American patriot.

Musk’s Tropic Thunder reference underscores a deeper truth: We’ve gone full retard on immigration policy.

Trump’s support for high-skilled immigration reform and Musk’s colorful endorsement of the H-1B program might seem like an odd couple. As someone who would personally prefer to scrap the visa system entirely in favor of true liberty, I’m willing to accept some compromises if it means preserving freedom and economic opportunity. Trump even came out in support of Musk’s stance, reposting Musk’s tweet about supporting hard-working immigrants who contribute to the nation’s success. But beneath the memes, and the profanity, and the angry Laura Loomer tweets, lies the real debate: How do we keep America’s economic engine roaring without leaving American workers in the dust?

The current H-1B system is no question a mess. It’s the bureaucratic equivalent of a movie star insisting on doing their own stunts—and breaking a leg in the process. Corporations do seem to be able to use it to bring in lower skilled workers, while legitimate innovators who could boost the economy get tangled in red tape. Trump’s stance on tightening the program’s guardrails isn’t anti-immigration; it’s pro-fairness. Even he said back in June that “anybody graduates from a college, you go in there for two years or four years, if you graduate, or you get a doctorate degree from a college, you should be able to stay in this country.”

Consider the case of Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, who came to the U.S. from India on a student visa and rose through the ranks to lead one of the most influential tech companies in the world. His story illustrates the potential of high-skilled immigration to transform industries and fuel innovation. If we’re going to dominate the global tech race, we need a talent pipeline capable of producing leaders like Pichai. The key is finding a balance—closing loopholes that allow exploitation while ensuring that innovators with groundbreaking ideas can contribute to the American economy. Think of it as refining the system to support legitimate talent while addressing inefficiencies.

America’s immigration system is outdated. It’s rooted in policies that predate the modern tech economy, failing to account for global talent competition, the rise of outsourcing firms, and the need to protect American wages while fostering innovation. In tech and beyond, companies like SpaceX thrive because of relentless innovation. Musk isn’t hiring on charity—he’s building rockets and rewriting the rules of energy. The same can’t be said for outsourcing firms attempting to hire 7/11 workers. That does in fact seem odd, and not what the program was designed for.

Trump’s vision aligns with fixing this by prioritizing the deportation of violent criminals to ensure immigration policies benefit American communities. His reforms also emphasize creating pathways for high-paying, high-impact jobs, ensuring that those who come here on H-1Bs are innovators and contributors, not merely filling seats. By focusing on public safety and economic advancement, this approach aims to elevate the American workforce and protect national interests.

The immigration debate isn’t a zero-sum game. Done right, it’s a win-win. Immigrants bring skills, innovation, and investment. American workers gain from stronger industries and better wages. This synergy ensures the U.S. remains the ultimate destination for dreamers and doers. What Trump and Musk are advocating for—albeit in wildly different tones—is survival. Not in the Hollywood sense of jungle chases and explosions, but in maintaining America’s global dominance. The alternative? Letting our economic engine sputter while competitors like China rev theirs into overdrive.

Too many people treat it as a binary choice—open the floodgates or build the wall. The middle path involves reforming the H-1B visa system to focus on attracting top-tier talent while implementing stricter oversight to prevent abuse. This could include raising wage requirements for visa holders, prioritizing applications from companies that create high-value jobs, and ensuring that American workers are not unfairly displaced. Musk and Trump, in their own unique ways, highlight the middle path: Reform the system, reward merit, and protect American workers.

Let’s not overcomplicate this. A functional immigration program means we attract innovators like Musk, not drive them to Canada or beyond. Elon’s job in the MAGA coalition couldn’t be done by just any nutless monkey. It can’t even be done by “you people,” if you know what I mean.

Follow Austin Petersen on X at @AP4Liberty.

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