President Joe Biden criticized Elon Musk for alleged immigration violations after reports surfaced that the Tesla CEO had worked illegally in the United States. Musk, who was born in South Africa, denies the accusations.
Biden, speaking at a union hall in Pittsburgh, referenced a Washington Post article that claimed Musk had worked in the country without proper authorization while on a student visa. The report stated that Musk arrived in Palo Alto, California in 1995 for a graduate program at Stanford University but did not enroll in courses, choosing instead to focus on his startup.
Musk responded to Biden's comments on social media, asserting that he was allowed to work in the U.S. and accusing Biden of lying. The report also mentioned concerns from investors in Musk's company, Zip2, about the potential consequences of his immigration status and a 2005 email in which Musk acknowledged his lack of authorization to be in the country when he started Zip2.
The email, submitted as evidence in a defamation lawsuit, revealed Musk's efforts to apply to Stanford in order to remain in the U.S. legally. Despite these past challenges, Musk is now the world's wealthiest individual and has been actively involved in supporting Republican candidates, including contributing significant funds to aid in their election campaigns.
Notably, Musk has aligned himself with President Donald Trump and has been a prominent figure in the final stages of the White House race, echoing Trump's stance on immigration. Trump has indicated that he would offer Musk a role in his administration if he emerges victorious in the upcoming election.
Requests for comments from Musk and Tesla regarding the recent developments have not yet received a response.
