Elon Musk tells X user to 'F*ck Yourself' while defending H-1B visa program

Elon Musk sparks controversy on X with strong language defending the importance of H-1B visas.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has gone viral after responding to an X user with a controversial comment during a disagreement about the H-1B visa program. The exchange began when X user Steven Mackey quoted one of Musk’s videos, in which the billionaire discussed not attempting to "optimize something that shouldn’t exist."

Mackey referenced Musk’s stance on the H-1B visa program in the United States with a seemingly sarcastic comment, writing: “Stop trying to optimize something that shouldn’t exist. Let’s optimize H1-B.”

In response, Musk used strong language while clarifying his position on the topic. The tweet, posted on December 28, 2024, quickly gained traction on X, amassing over 2.2 million views and more than 17,000 likes.

Musk wrote: "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 F*CK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend."

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, H-1B visas are granted to professionals with "theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge" who possess at least a bachelor’s degree in their field.

To qualify for an H-1B visa, these professionals must be offered a temporary position by a U.S. company that agrees to pay them no less than what is offered to similarly qualified workers or the prevailing wage for the specific geographical area.

After Musk’s fiery response, Steven Mackey replied on X, clarifying his stance on the debate. He wrote:

"There seems to be a lot of confusion about this interaction. I personally am the biggest fan of Elon on the planet and I always will be. I’m also capable of disagreeing with people I deeply respect and admire. That being said I am agnostic on whether or not H1b should be reformed or deleted."