'I will go to war...': Elon Musk’s contradictory tweets on H-1B visas go viral after Trump’s fee hike

Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is making headlines after his contradictory tweets on H-1B visa went viral, following US President Donald Trump's announcement to raise the annual fee for H-1B visas to $100,000.

Musk, in his earlier tweets, had praised and defended the H-1B visas, saying that it allows many critical people to work in the US but later said that a "major reform" was needed to fix a "broken programme".

In an X post dated December 2024, Musk wrote, “There is no question that the H1B system needs to be overhauled,” but yesterday stated the visa programme is “broken and needs major reform.”

No question that the H1B system needs to be overhauled

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2024

"The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B," the Tesla CEO said.

The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot… — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2024

Further, in another X post, Musk strongly advocated for "a significant increase in legal migration" and also said that he would “go to war” to defend the H-1B system. He also made certain recommendations that included "raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically.”

US President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order on September 19 to raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to a whopping $100,000, causing a mega disruption in the tech industry.

"Those who are visiting or leaving the country, or visiting India, they don't need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee. $100,000 is only for new and not current existing holders," news agency ANI had reported.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified on September 21 that the new H-1B visa fee rule will be applicable only for fresh applicants and existing holders can re-enter without paying any charges.

“H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation,” she said in a post on X.