Steve Bannon Demands Trump Investigate Elon Musk’s Immigration and Seize SpaceX

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon didn’t hold back on Thursday, June 5, urging President Donald Trump to launch an investigation into Elon Musk’s immigration status and deport the South African-born tech mogul immediately. The call came amid a heated back-and-forth between Trump and Musk over the controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“They need to officially look into his immigration because I firmly believe he’s here illegally, and he should be sent back right away,” Bannon told The New York Times. The MAGA insider didn’t mince words on his Bannons War Room webcast, declaring, “Elon Musk is illegal. He has to go. Deport him immediately. We’re sending others home—let’s start with the South Africans, okay?” referencing the Trump administration’s tough immigration stance.

Musk, who’s been a major donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign with a hefty contribution of around $250 million, was born in South Africa before moving to Canada and eventually the U.S., where he gained citizenship and built his tech empire, including SpaceX, Tesla, and the social platform X.

Last year, The Washington Post reported that Musk may have worked in the U.S. illegally before becoming a citizen, fueling Bannon’s suspicions about the legitimacy of Musk’s status. Bannon also pointed to Musk’s rumored drug use as another potential reason for deportation, citing reports of ketamine use during the campaign trail—claims Musk has denied.

“The drug allegations will be looked into,” Bannon asserted.

The relationship between Trump and Musk has recently taken a nosedive, sparked by Musk’s harsh criticism of the Trump-backed mega bill currently under congressional review. Musk labeled the bill a “disgusting abomination,” while Trump defended it vigorously.

Bannon threw his weight behind Trump’s suggestion to yank Musk’s lucrative government contracts, insisting, “This needs drastic action. I’d pull all those contracts immediately.” He also condemned Musk’s recent social media attacks on Trump, which included controversial claims linking Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Musk taking credit for Trump’s election victory.

“President Trump empowered Musk more than anyone else in government, stood by him even when folks like me warned it was a mistake,” Bannon said on War Room. “Musk’s going to turn on you. He’s not on our side. Plus, he’s totally incompetent.”

Bannon lamented how, just as Trump spoke kindly about the bill, Musk fired off some of the harshest tweets imaginable. The drama between the two shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon.