Recently, media reports have indicated that there are conflicts within the camp of former U.S. President Trump, involving Silicon Valley tech giant Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. It is said that the core of this dispute revolves around immigration policy and the conflict between tech capital and the interests of the traditional working class.
The rift between tech elites and 'rednecks'
During the early stages of his campaign, Trump attracted some support from tech capital, including several Silicon Valley elites like Musk. The reason was that Trump's 'America First' policy was seen as beneficial to enhancing economic competitiveness. However, this fragile cooperative relationship gradually disintegrated as policies deepened, especially concerning immigration, manufacturing, and education issues, where the differences between the two sides intensified.
Musk has long supported high-skilled immigration, emphasizing the importance of tech talent for corporate innovation and American competitiveness. However, this position is inconsistent with the demands of many traditional working-class individuals within Trump's camp. They believe that a large influx of foreign immigrants would take away job opportunities and even disrupt the local economic ecosystem.
Vivek's tweet ignites controversy
The catalyst for the conflict was a social media tweet posted by Vivek. He criticized the inefficiency of the American education system and proposed addressing this shortcoming by introducing more highly educated immigrants. This proposal received Musk's support but faced fierce opposition from the 'redneck' group within Trump's camp, who felt it sacrificed the interests of local laborers.
Musk's 'traitor' identity
As a supporter of tweets and an advocate for immigration policy, Musk is seen by some of Trump's allies as a 'traitor.' Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon openly accused Musk of undermining the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again) by supporting immigration, attempting to secure greater benefits for tech capital. This accusation resonated with many in the conservative grassroots and has drawn Musk into a whirlpool of public opinion.
Trump's statement
In the face of the controversy within the camp, Trump attempted to reconcile the contradictions. He acknowledged that highly educated immigrants do contribute to the American economy and business development, but he also emphasized that he would continue to protect the interests of local laborers. This ambiguous statement neither fully supported Musk and Vivek nor quelled the dissatisfaction of the 'redneck' group.
The deeper issues behind it
This struggle actually reflects the deep-seated contradictions in American society: the conflict between tech capital and the traditional working class, the game between economic globalization and local protectionism. In Trump's camp, this contradiction is further highlighted due to complex factions.
In the future, this internal division may continue to fester. Balancing the demands of the elite and grassroots will become the biggest challenge faced by Trump and his supporters.