Elon Musk has found common ground with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on immigration. The Tesla CEO now backs the Cabinet member's position that America's immigration system is fundamentally broken. This agreement comes just days after Lutnick publicly slammed Musk's approach to government efficiency cuts.
Musk Says "Exactly" to Lutnick's Viral Clip
The billionaire entrepreneur responded with a single word to a viral clip of Lutnick's argument. Musk simply wrote "Exactly" when Lutnick stated that open borders only work if immigrants receive zero government benefits. "You can't really open the border and say, 'I'm gonna give my money to anybody who wants to come in,'" Lutnick said in the clip. "That's getting it wrong."
Past Friction Between the Two Figures
This endorsement is particularly notable given recent friction between Musk and Lutnick. In an interview with Axios last year, Lutnick criticized Musk's handling of the Department of Government Efficiency. He said Musk got the mission "backward" by prioritizing mass layoffs over cutting waste.
"I thought Elon got caught up in other people's objectives," Lutnick stated at the time. He argued that Musk treated government like Twitter, where he slashed 80% of staff. Lutnick believed the same rapid approach would not work for federal agencies.
Historical Precedent for Immigration Argument
Lutnick's immigration argument draws from historical precedent. He pointed to the pre-1930s era when America welcomed around 600,000 immigrants annually without welfare programs. Those who couldn't make it "would self-deport and leave," he explained.
Musk's Consistent Position on Immigration
Musk has been beating this drum for months. He has argued repeatedly that mixing open borders with welfare creates a recipe for fiscal disaster. The numbers appear to support his position to some extent. A 2023 House Budget Committee report pegged the annual cost of illegal immigration at $150.7 billion. Of that total, $42 billion went toward welfare alone.
Trump Administration's Enforcement Push
The Trump administration hasn't been sitting idle either. Since taking office in January 2025, the administration has gone full throttle on enforcement. They declared an "invasion" at the southern border. Officials ramped up detention capacity to hold 100,000 people daily. They also took significant action on immigrant benefits through legislation.
The Musk-Trump Relationship Status
As for Musk and Trump, their bromance hit the rocks back in May. That's when Musk walked away from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency. He didn't leave quietly either. Musk called Trump's spending bill a "massive abomination." He later dropped hints about the president's name appearing in the Epstein files.
Lutnick, who has known Trump for over 50 years, said the president would "forgive" but not forget Musk's "negativity" during his exit. For now, at least on immigration, the two billionaires appear aligned. Their broader relationship remains complicated despite this agreement on policy.
