Steve Bannon Turns on Elon Musk: ‘He Will Not Have Access to the White House’

Steve Bannon, known for his aggressive political tactics, has gone from praising Elon Musk’s deep pockets to launching a full-on attack against the tech mogul, vowing to limit his influence in the White House. Just days after praising Musk’s potential support for the MAGA movement, Bannon, 71, now says he wants Musk out, accusing him of being a “bad guy” and threatening to strip him of any White House access.

In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, translated by Breitbart, Bannon made it clear that he was no longer willing to tolerate Musk’s stance on key issues. “I will have Elon Musk run out of here by Inauguration Day,” Bannon declared. “He will not have a blue pass to the White House… he will be like any other person.”

Bannon’s new hostility toward Musk comes after a public rift within the MAGA movement over the issue of H1-B visas, which allow foreign workers to come to the U.S. for specialty jobs. Musk, a staunch defender of these visas, clashed with Bannon and other immigration hardliners, leading to this fiery exchange. Bannon, who has long been critical of the tech elite, doubled down on his objections to Musk’s position, calling him an “evil guy” and vowing to take him down.

Bannon’s critique extended beyond Musk, including other prominent billionaire Trump supporters. “Peter Thiel, David Sacks, Elon Musk, are all white South Africans,” he said, going as far as suggesting Musk “should go back to South Africa” and questioning why South Africans should have a say in U.S. matters. Musk, who emigrated from South Africa, has become a controversial figure for his outspoken views on a variety of issues, including immigration, where his stance on H1-B visas has drawn significant ire.

Despite this latest clash, Musk has found a home within Trump’s orbit. After initially supporting alternative GOP candidates like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Musk has aligned himself more closely with Trump following the 2024 assassination attempt on the president-elect. Musk is even leading the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” a non-governmental initiative aimed at slashing government bloat.

Bannon’s frustrations go beyond Musk’s immigration views. He also criticized Musk’s wealth accumulation, claiming the billionaire’s goal is to become a trillionaire. “His aggregation of wealth, and then — through wealth — power: that’s what he’s focused on,” Bannon lamented.

Yet, in a twist, Bannon has also acknowledged that Musk’s financial backing could be crucial to the MAGA movement’s success. “Musk just spent a quarter of a billion dollars to elect Trump,” Bannon noted, suggesting that Musk’s support could be a powerful force in both U.S. and European politics.

Despite their differences, Bannon’s mix of admiration and animosity toward Musk reflects the complicated relationship between the billionaire and the broader right-wing movement. For now, it seems the battle between Bannon and Musk is just heating up.