President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Democrats have ramped up their xenophobic rhetoric, launching scathing comments about Elon Musk and Melania Trump. The latest political drama sees party leaders relentlessly targeting Musk’s South African roots and calling for the deportation of the First Lady, Melania, who was born in the former Yugoslavia.
During an anti-DOGE rally in Los Angeles on March 22, Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., made headlines by suggesting Trump should investigate Melania’s immigration status. “If he’s going to scrutinize birthright citizenship, maybe he should start with Melania,” Waters declared, questioning whether her parents were properly documented when they arrived in the U.S.
Though Melania became a U.S. citizen in 2006, some Democrats aren’t backing down. Waters’ comments reflect a larger trend within the party, with some members taking the issue a step further and accusing Musk of embracing a dangerous ideology linked to his South African background.
At a February congressional rally, Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., used a historical analogy to slam Musk, likening him to the British invaders who burned Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812. “This time, it’s not the British coming for us—it’s a South African billionaire,” Bynum remarked, drawing sharp reactions from both sides of the aisle.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., wasn’t shy about her stance, bluntly telling Musk to “go back to South Africa.” This was in response to Musk’s controversial comments about immigrants and nationality, which many saw as hypocritical given his own background. Even Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, piled on, claiming Musk’s ties to apartheid were evident in his political views. “Maybe he doesn’t understand democracy, given the country he’s from,” Crockett added, casting doubt on Musk’s loyalty to the United States.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., went as far as to suggest Musk’s behavior was rooted in the “fascist” elements of South African apartheid. And Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., accused Musk’s parents of supporting the systemic oppression of Black South Africans, drawing an eerie comparison to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., joined the chorus, claiming that Musk’s upbringing in apartheid South Africa made him inherently unsympathetic to American democracy. Despite all these claims, a Snopes fact-check has revealed that Musk actually left South Africa to avoid military service, refusing to fight for the apartheid regime.
These fiery attacks have sparked outrage across the political spectrum, with many questioning the true motivations behind the Democrats’ stance. The controversy continues to build, with accusations of xenophobia and political posturing flying in all directions.
