The internal struggle determining the direction of "Trump 2.0": Musk vs. MAGA
In the past two years, Silicon Valley's tech giants have begun to participate in politics in a more high-profile manner, gradually shifting from staunch supporters of the Democratic Party to the Republican camp. The traditional MAGA camp expresses deep skepticism about whether the innovations promised by these tech companies signify progress. American far-right conservative Steve Bannon has criticized Musk, claiming that he is attempting to implement "global technological feudalism" and is a "racist" and "truly evil person."
The rise of the tech elite represented by Musk has led to a division within the MAGA camp.
According to media reports, on the eve of Trump's second inauguration, the right-wing publisher Passage Press will host a dinner called the "Coronation Ball" at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, where "new right-wing celebrities" are expected to gather.
Rumors suggest that billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen will attend the ball, while right-wing political activist Steve Bannon will serve as the keynote speaker.
On one side are the tech elites from Silicon Valley, and on the other are the representatives of America's far-right conservatives, reflecting the internal divisions facing Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) camp.
As Musk enters the White House, these divisions are deepening. Analysts point out that Trump must strike a delicate balance between the Silicon Valley elites, who are essential for funding and networking to achieve his MAGA agenda, and the traditional MAGA camp, which is his source of political support.
Silicon Valley Shifts Right: The Political Ambitions of Musk and Others Are Expanding
Over the past two years, tech giants in Silicon Valley have begun to engage in politics in a more high-profile manner, gradually shifting from staunch supporters of the Democratic Party to the Republican camp.
During this year's U.S. presidential election, tech elites represented by Musk openly supported Trump, forming one of the "most surprising" political alliances in American history, including well-known venture capitalists like David Sacks and Tyler Winklevoss.
The tech sector has thus become another power center outside the Republican establishment, filling the funding gap left by traditional donors for Trump.
This has caused a sense of crisis within the traditional MAGA camp. According to previous media reports, Bannon has repeatedly launched fierce attacks on Musk, calling him a "racist" and "truly evil," and has vowed to kick him out of the MAGA camp.
Bannon was Trump's chief strategist during his first term in the White House and is the host of the popular show "War Room," which is well-received within the MAGA base.
As the most famous "Musk sniper," Bannon stated in an interview earlier this month that Musk is attempting to implement "global technological feudalism" and is the "culprit" behind the division of the MAGA camp, expressing that there is an "almost unbridgeable gap" between himself and the tech right.
"He is a truly evil guy, a very bad person. I have made it my personal goal to take this guy down. In the past, I was prepared to tolerate him because he invested a lot of money—I am no longer prepared to tolerate him."
Currently, Musk and Bannon have differing views on H-1B visas, as tech companies heavily utilize H-1B visas to hire foreign workers with engineering or other technical expertise, while Bannon wants to abolish the H-1B program and make other changes to tighten immigration laws.
Analysts believe that the core claim of Trump's traditional supporters is to advocate for the restoration of the traditional American way of life, and they are deeply skeptical about whether the innovations promised by tech companies signify progressDespite internal divisions, some are still trying to maintain the unity of the alliance. Venture capitalist Julie Fredrickson believes that MAGA and the tech right have common interests in certain areas, such as opposing the restrictions and suppression of innovation by large vested interest groups.
Geneticist and technology consultant Razib Khan predicts that in the short term, the tech right may have the upper hand due to their talent and funding advantages, but in the long run, neither faction will be able to achieve complete victory.
There are also analyses suggesting that the newly elected Vice President Vance may become a mediator within the alliance—having previously worked in the venture capital industry, he understands the tech world while also adhering to a nationalist political style