The recent online spat between Donald Trump’s supporters has exposed the deep-seated divisions within his political movement regarding immigration and the tech industry. At the heart of the debate is the tension between Trump’s newest supporters, wealthy tech entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who want to bring in more highly skilled workers, and his traditional Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, who champion his hardline immigration policies.

The controversy began when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy. Krishnan’s stance on bringing in more skilled immigrants was deemed “not America First policy” by Loomer, who accused tech executives of aligning with Trump to enrich themselves.

This rift highlights the contradictory views within Trump’s coalition, which could lead to challenges in implementing immigration policies. Trump’s administration has proposed a merit-based immigration system, which would prioritize skilled workers, but this approach may face opposition from his MAGA base ¹ ².

The debate also underscores the complexities of Trump’s immigration policies, which aim to balance border security with the need for skilled workers in industries like tech. As Trump’s administration moves forward, it will be interesting to see how these internal divisions play out and shape the future of immigration policy in the United States.