Steve Bannon Vows To Take Down 'Racist' And 'Truly Evil' Elon Musk

Steve Bannon, a prominent far-right political strategist, has expressed frustration with Elon Musk, pledging to distance the tech billionaire from President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Wednesday, Bannon labeled Musk as “racist” and “truly evil,” vowing to ensure Musk is excluded from the White House by Inauguration Day.

“He won’t have special access or privileges at the White House; he’ll be treated like anyone else,” said Bannon, who previously served as Trump’s chief strategist.

Bannon’s discontent stems in part from Musk’s outspoken support for the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills. Musk, a former H-1B visa holder himself, described these workers as “critical” for innovation in tech companies like SpaceX and Tesla. In a recent post on X, Musk even declared he’d “go to war” to defend the program.

Bannon, however, sharply criticized the system in the interview, calling it “corrupt” and manipulated by tech elites for personal gain. “The immigration system, especially the H-1B visas, is rigged by tech overlords, and people are outraged,” he stated.

Although Trump has largely aligned with Musk on this issue, recently praising the H-1B program as “great” in a December statement to the New York Post, Bannon is unwavering in his opposition.

Beyond policy disagreements, Bannon took personal aim at Musk, describing him as “a very bad guy” and declaring his intent to remove Musk from Trump’s orbit. “I used to tolerate him because he brought money, but I won’t anymore,” Bannon said.

Musk has played a significant role in Trump’s political resurgence, reportedly donating $277 million to his campaign and leveraging his social media platform, X, to boost Trump’s image. His contributions even secured him an informal advisory role in Trump’s upcoming administration.

However, signs of tension between Musk and Trump have surfaced. Journalist Maggie Haberman recently reported on the On with Kara Swisher podcast that Trump has grown weary of Musk’s frequent presence, despite their public alignment.

As Trump prepares for his second term, the friction between his allies, such as Bannon and Musk, highlights emerging divisions within his circle of influence.

This article was reported by journalist Angelia.