Steve Bannon, once a key adviser to President Donald Trump, raised questions about Elon Musk’s immigration background on Thursday and urged Trump to launch a formal investigation, claiming Musk is “an illegal alien” who should be deported.
Musk, originally from South Africa, spent much of his early life there before moving with his family to Canada. He later relocated to the United States to attend the University of Pennsylvania and eventually became a U.S. citizen in 2002, according to his biographical records.
Earlier in Trump’s second term, Musk had been appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a high-profile role aimed at streamlining federal operations. However, tensions between the two powerful figures have escalated dramatically in recent days, with Musk now publicly criticizing Trump’s flagship legislative effort dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” which recently passed the House.
The friction within the Republican Party over the bill, combined with mounting opposition from Democrats, has complicated its path forward in Congress. With narrow GOP majorities in both chambers, any internal division poses a significant threat to its success.
In an interview, Bannon insisted that Musk’s legal right to reside in the U.S. should be scrutinized, alleging without evidence that the billionaire may have obtained his status improperly. He further called for Musk’s security clearances to be suspended and pressed for an investigation into reported drug use and an alleged attempt to gain classified briefings about China.
Musk has denied those allegations, dismissing them as baseless and labeling the reports false and politically motivated. He rejected claims of seeking intelligence briefings and pushed back against suggestions of substance abuse.
Bannon, who has long been critical of Musk, has previously labeled him a “parasitic illegal immigrant” and remains one of the most vocal skeptics of the billionaire’s rise to influence in American politics and government.