Thu Oct 31 22:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Biden Accuses Musk of Hypocrisy on Immigration After Report of Illegal Work in US
**PITTSBURGH, PA** – President Joe Biden on Saturday accused Elon Musk of hypocrisy on immigration, highlighting a recent Washington Post report alleging that the Tesla CEO worked illegally in the United States during his early career.
Biden, campaigning in Pittsburgh, pointed out that Musk, the world’s richest man, was reportedly working on his startup while on a student visa, but never enrolled in classes at Stanford University. “He was supposed to be in school when he came on a student visa. He wasn’t in school. He was violating the law,” Biden said, questioning Musk’s stance on immigration given this revelation.
The Washington Post report, citing company documents, former business associates, and court records, alleges Musk arrived in Palo Alto, California in 1995 with the intention of pursuing a graduate program at Stanford, but instead, focused on his startup. The report further states that investors in Musk’s company, Zip2, became concerned about his possible deportation and pressured him to secure a work visa.
Musk has denied the allegations, stating on X that he was “allowed to work in the US.” He also called Biden’s comments “lies.” The Washington Post, however, cites a 2005 email from Musk to his Tesla co-founders acknowledging that he did not have work authorization when he founded Zip2. This email, reportedly submitted as evidence in a closed California defamation lawsuit, also states that Musk had applied to Stanford for the purpose of maintaining legal residency in the US.
This revelation comes at a time when Musk has been actively campaigning for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, contributing over $70 million to the campaign and echoing Trump’s rhetoric against immigration. Trump has pledged to give Musk a role in his administration if elected.
Musk’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
First Piper 