Bannon Calls Musk a ‘Parasitic Illegal Immigrant’

THE NEWS

Steve Bannon, once a top strategist in President Donald Trump’s first White House term, has amplified his attacks on Elon Musk — the billionaire entrepreneur and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In an explosive interview with UnHerd’s James Billot, Bannon labeled Musk a “parasitic illegal immigrant” and a “racist,” claiming he disrespects “the country’s history, values, or traditions.”

This latest broadside highlights a deepening feud within Trump’s political circle, where Bannon and other conservative critics view Musk’s growing influence as a threat to MAGA principles.

Meanwhile, Musk continues to oversee DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts, with sources indicating a new push to target the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the coming days.

TIMELINE

• Late 2024: Bannon and Musk publicly clash over H-1B visas, with Musk defending the practice of hiring high-skilled foreign workers and Bannon calling it detrimental to American labor.

• Early 2025: DOGE is established under President Trump to target government inefficiencies, with Musk overseeing the department’s push to slash federal spending.

• Past Statements: Bannon criticizes Musk’s ties to China and questions his loyalty to the U.S., at one point pledging, “I will have Elon Musk run out of here by Inauguration Day.”

• This Week:
  

• Bannon’s UnHerd interview goes public, accusing Musk of failing to deliver meaningful spending cuts.

• Musk fires back on social media, calling Bannon “a great talker, but not a great doer.”

• Rumors swirl that DOGE is preparing a new cost-cutting proposal targeting the SEC as part of Trump’s broader federal government downsizing agenda.

REACTIONS

Elon Musk: Largely dismissive of Bannon’s remarks. On X, Musk remarked, “Bannon is a great talker, but not a great doer.”

President Donald Trump: Maintains confidence in Musk’s judgment, asserting that the billionaire “doesn’t do anything he’s not allowed to do” by the White House.

WHAT'S NEXT

Despite Bannon’s scathing critique, Musk remains firmly in control of DOGE and continues meeting with foreign leaders as part of Trump’s second-term agenda.

In the near term, all eyes will be on DOGE’s reported plan to target the SEC for major budget cuts — a move that could further ignite controversy both inside and outside the White House.