Steve Bannon Escalates H-1B Debate: Calls for Program's Total Abolition and Reparations for U.S. Workers

Amid the simmering MAGA infighting over H-1B visas, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon reignited the debate, taking a hardline stance against the program. Speaking on his podcast Bannon's War Room, which also featured Laura Loomer, Bannon issued a scathing critique of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, prominent figures in the MAGA movement and co-leaders of DOGE.

Bannon dismissed recent calls for reform, declaring, "We’re not reforming H-1B—we’re shutting it down." He criticized Musk's agenda, alleging a prioritization of personal wealth over "America First" policies. "If his priority was truly American citizens, ending H-1B would top his list," Bannon claimed.

He accused the program of enabling Silicon Valley to exploit foreign labor at the expense of the U.S. middle class. "This is how they gutted the middle class. No ref

orm. We want it gone and demand reparations for the tech workers whose jobs were stolen."

Bannon framed the program as a betrayal of MAGA ideals, denouncing the reliance on "high-skilled foreign workers" as both exploitative and hypocritical. He dismissed efforts by Musk, Ramaswamy, and others to engage in dialogue as "unconditional surrender," stating, "No group hugs. No negotiation."

The fiery rhetoric extended to claims of widespread abuse within the program, with Bannon demanding mass deportations and an unequivocal return of those jobs to American citizens. "The H-1B program is a scam from top to bottom. Deport the workers now and hire American citizens."

Bannon's remarks underscore the widening ideological rift within the MAGA movement as it wrestles with the future of immigration and labor policy.