As Liberals gear up for a leadership race—and, ultimately, an election—a messy feud is brewing down south between MAGA’s populists and business elites. While immigration is the flashpoint, this feud is about more than policy—it’s a battle over how to “Make America Great Again” in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The results could define Trump’s White House. Canadians might want to listen up.
What the Feud’s About
H-1B visas allow US companies to import foreign workers with skills that are hard to find at home. MAGA populists think the practice is abused—especially by Big Tech—and that many of these jobs should go to Americans.
When DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswami stepped up to defend the visas, America Firsters like Steve Bannon were incredulous. They say US businesses are failing to invest in American workers.
Elon Musk, a big proponent of the visas, fired back, calling MAGA populists “racists” and “contemptible fools,” and even telling one critic to “take a big step back and F**K YOURSELF in the face.”
Bannon, no shrinking violet, doubled down, dismissing Musk as a “political toddler” and vowing to “rip [his] face off” if the fight continues—and it likely will. These are two very different visions of the MAGA brand.
For Bannon, MAGA politics is about building narratives that channel emotions in the Base. Combining immigration with America First is a good example. It plays to deep-seated fears about crime, jobs, and cultural security and for a populist like Bannon that’s what politics is about.
Musk and his Silicon Valley peers see politics differently. For them, power is rooted in wealth, planning, and innovation. While Musk is more than willing to pander to the Base, he is not a populist. His view of the world is rational and goal-oriented, as a glance at his long list of achievements shows.
But Musk is also part of a new generation of tech leaders, whose vision of the future is defined by the belief that AI is about to transform the world—and he wants America to lead this revolution. For him, politics is a tool to help realize this vision.
Musk is not alone. Most of Silicon Valley share this view and want America at the helm. This goes far beyond rallying the MAGA Base or spinning clever narratives. It demands specialized skills, immense capital, a clear focus—and the right government leadership.
The “Tech Bros” around Trump thus are also America Firsters, but of a different sort. In their view, tariffs and border walls will not Make America Great Again; the right investment and leadership in AI will.
Why Did Trump Side with Big Tech?
Trump straddles these two wings of MAGA. His takeover of the Republican Party involved strong populist appeal to the Base. But if Trump, the Republican leader, is a populist, Trump, the man, is an elitist whose lifelong goals have always revolved around the accumulation of wealth and, through it, power, recognition, and status.
So, perhaps it’s not surprising that Trump sided with Big Tech on the visa feud, claiming he’s “always been in favour of the visas” despite criticizing them harshly in the past.
Trump is drawn to Big Tech because he needs economic growth and innovation to deliver on his promises. Tech leaders like Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks seem to be convincing him that AI can revolutionize industries, creating a pathway to massive economic growth—and that America can blaze this trail.
Policy-wise, much of their thinking aligns with MAGA populism, including libertarian leanings, a focus on efficiency and innovation, and the push for deregulation. But a deep difference remains.
Silicon Valley’s AI vision is inherently globalist, requiring international collaboration, open markets, and immigration. While Canadians will welcome this, it is at odds with the populists’ America First philosophy. This divide between populists and corporate elites reflects a deeper tension over how globalization and technology have shaped—and continue to reshape—the economy.
The Second Digital Revolution
MAGA’s Base is driven as much by anger as fear. Much of this stems from the hollowing out of American manufacturing in the 1990s and 2000s—a consequence of globalization and free trade. This economic shift was closely tied to the rise of digital technologies and the internet: the first phase of the digital revolution. That anger fueled Trump’s rise to power.
Now, the Base faces a second phase of the digital revolution, this time driven by AI. How will they respond if millions more jobs disappear—not just in blue-collar sectors like trucking but also in white-collar professions? Will Trump distance himself from Big Tech to side with his Base, as populists like Bannon are betting?
Yet, at 78 years old, Trump cannot run for a third term. This is almost certainly his Swan Song. His attention may already be shifting to his legacy. Blazing an AI trail to economic growth and global leadership might seem like the ultimate way to Make America Great Again.
What Next?
Here in Canada, Liberals are selecting a new leader, and all parties are preparing for a national election. Yesterday, Trump waded into the fray, musing about using economic pressure to force Canada to join the U.S.
In this context, if Trump decides to go all out on AI innovation, how should Canada respond? Do we want to be leaders in this space? If so, must we partner with the U.S., and what would such a relationship entail?
Is it destiny that, in this new digital age, Canada becomes the 51st state? Trump apparently thinks so.
Stay tuned…
Don Lenihan PhD is an expert in public engagement with a long-standing focus on how digital technologies are transforming societies, governments, and governance. This column appears weekly. To see earlier instalments in the series, click here.