MAGA civil war sparks fears of chaotic Trump
As Donald Trump’s allies clash in a public power struggle ahead of his inauguration, analysts suggest the ongoing hostilities between his billionaire supporters and working-class base may foreshadow a deeper rift that could fracture his precarious coalition.
The debate over welcoming skilled foreign workers has laid bare stark divisions. On one side are the staunch immigration hardliners who backed Trump from day one; on the other, tech industry elites who poured millions into securing his re-election.
What began as a policy disagreement now threatens to escalate into a full-blown schism. Key figures in Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement are pointing out the irony of a so-called populist crusade being heavily influenced by ultra-wealthy power players.
“This recent skirmish between traditional MAGA loyalists and the tech-driven MAGA faction feels like the opening act of a long and bitter fight for the movement’s soul,” said political analyst Flavio Hickel in an interview with AFP.
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has emerged as a leading voice for the Silicon Valley contingent. Musk reportedly contributed at least $250 million to Trump’s campaign, even as Trump continued to stoke fears about an immigration-fueled crime wave—claims many critics have dismissed as baseless.
Musk’s wealth was undeniably an asset, but his stance on supporting visas for skilled foreign workers quickly put him in the crosshairs of MAGA supporters. The world’s richest man seemed oblivious to the fact that his new allies’ anti-immigration fervor also clashed with his own business practices.
“Oligarchs vs. Nativists”
Hickel described Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and several other tech leaders tapped by Trump as advisors as leaning “ideologically libertarian.” They advocate for traditional conservative values, including balanced budgets and broader pathways for legal immigration.
“Traditional MAGA supporters seem largely unconcerned with budget issues, focusing instead on Trump’s nativism as the most compelling aspect of his campaigns,” explained a politics professor from Washington College, a liberal arts school in Maryland, during an interview with AFP.
The movement is now facing its first major internal clash since November’s election—dubbed “Oligarchs vs. Nativists” by U.S. media. In the midst of the feud, Elon Musk fired back at his critics within the Trump base, calling them “contemptible fools” and suggesting they should be purged from the movement.
Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist and prominent MAGA media figure, responded with a fiery threat on his War Room podcast. He vowed to “rip [Musk’s] face off” on New Year’s Eve, warning the billionaire to avoid “lecturing people” during his early days in the spotlight.
Highlighting long-standing concerns that Trump’s wealthy backers don’t fully grasp his connection with blue-collar voters, Bannon advised Musk and other “newcomers” to take a step back and carefully study MAGA’s commitment to protecting American jobs for American workers.
Bannon and his allies have called for “reparations” from Silicon Valley, accusing the tech industry of sidelining American workers. The MAGA firebrand described the visa issue as “a core factor in the destruction of the middle class in this country.”
‘Bad Politics’
Trump—whose net worth was recently pegged at $5.5 billion—stunned many of his supporters by siding with Silicon Valley. His stance even drew criticism from moderates, including his former UN ambassador, Nikki Haley.
Despite this, Donald Nieman, a political analyst and professor at Binghamton University in New York, credits Trump with building a broader coalition, even if it risks internal conflict.
“Trump knows the economy is the cornerstone of his appeal—the issue that got him to the White House. Going after the tech industry too aggressively could be politically risky,” Nieman told AFP.
Some experts predict the clash could backfire for Musk, as Trump remains acutely aware that his power lies in his working-class base.
Others believe Silicon Valley’s financial allure may have permanently reshaped MAGA. They argue that Trump, ever the dealmaker, might steer his movement toward the center rather than being pulled further right by his base.
Jeff Le, a former deputy cabinet secretary under California Governor Jerry Brown, worked closely with the tech sector on visa reform during Trump’s first term.
“The friction between Musk, Ramaswamy, Bannon, and the MAGA wing reflects deep philosophical divides,” Le explained.
“Still, if Trump leans into other immigration tools—like expanded judicial powers, tougher ICE enforcement, and stricter border security—his base will likely stay loyal.”