Musk appears to be winning since Trump seemed to publicly back him over the benefits of the H-1B program. And as the owner of one of the world’s most influential social-media platforms, Musk, who also has a direct line to the president-elect’s ear, is undoubtedly more powerful than the vast majority of Trump’s other MAGA backers.

Donald Trump has backed Elon Musk in supporting visas for skilled migrants. The president-elect waded into a row that has split the Republican party by defending H1B visas, which permit highly-educated foreigners to work in the US for up to six years.

Elon Musk, boss of Tesla, is South African. This is not just true of big tech. Of the 100 most valuable American companies, more than 30 have chief executives who are not sons and daughters of Uncle Sam (though some,