Elon Musk dodged the question over a ban on foreign students and said to ask about the subject- spaceships.
Musk's pre-taped interview with CBS, which was taken ahead of the ninth test flight of the Starship, was released Monday, and it began on a tense note.
CBS correspondent David Pogue opened the conversation by asking about how the Trump administration’s new policies had affected his business but then he moved to ban on foreign students, which seems to upset the Tesla CEO and former head of the department of government efficiency , DOGE.
“Wondering what your thoughts are on the ban on foreign students — the proposal,” Pogue asked.
“I mean, you were one of those kids, right?” he added, pointing out that Musk, originally from South Africa, had been an international student himself, attending the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990s.
Looking uncomfortable, Musk initially tried to respond, but then he asked to change the question. He said, “Yeah, I mean, I think we want to stick to, you know, the subject of the day, which is like spaceships, as opposed to presidential policy.”
When Pogue said he was told “anything was good” to talk about, Musk laughed nervously and replied, “No… Well, no.”
Despite the awkward exchange, Musk did weigh in on Trump’s newly passed “big, beautiful bill.” Passed by a narrow 215–214 margin on May 22, the bill aims to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk said.
“I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion,” he added.
Musk's remarks come as he steps back from his position as the head of the department of government efficiency under pressure from Tesla's board, the electric vehicle company he founded and leads.
Immigrant's path now under his own scrutiny
Meanwhile, renewed scrutiny has emerged around Musk’s immigration history.
A Washington Post report revealed that after leaving Stanford University in 1995 to launch his first company, Zip2, Musk likely worked in the US without the proper legal authorization.
Legal experts say that foreign students are not allowed to drop out of school and start a company—even if they are not drawing a salary.
Musk has previously said, “I was legally there, but I was meant to be doing student work. I was allowed to do work sort of supporting whatever.”
The report highlights a contradiction with Musk’s current views. While now supporting Donald Trump ’s re-election and his hardline stance on immigration, Musk’s own path to success may have included working in a legal “grey area.”
Musk's pre-taped interview with CBS, which was taken ahead of the ninth test flight of the Starship, was released Monday, and it began on a tense note.
CBS correspondent David Pogue opened the conversation by asking about how the Trump administration’s new policies had affected his business but then he moved to ban on foreign students, which seems to upset the Tesla CEO and former head of the department of government efficiency , DOGE.
“Wondering what your thoughts are on the ban on foreign students — the proposal,” Pogue asked.
“I mean, you were one of those kids, right?” he added, pointing out that Musk, originally from South Africa, had been an international student himself, attending the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990s.
Musk’s interview went great: Reporter: What is your thought on the ban of foreign students, you were one of those kids, right? Musk: “I think we want to stick to talking about spaceships.” Reporter: I was told that any topic is good. Musk: “Well no.”
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) June 1, 2025
pic.twitter.com/0rDg8ahxAO
Looking uncomfortable, Musk initially tried to respond, but then he asked to change the question. He said, “Yeah, I mean, I think we want to stick to, you know, the subject of the day, which is like spaceships, as opposed to presidential policy.”
When Pogue said he was told “anything was good” to talk about, Musk laughed nervously and replied, “No… Well, no.”
Despite the awkward exchange, Musk did weigh in on Trump’s newly passed “big, beautiful bill.” Passed by a narrow 215–214 margin on May 22, the bill aims to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk said.
“I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion,” he added.
Musk's remarks come as he steps back from his position as the head of the department of government efficiency under pressure from Tesla's board, the electric vehicle company he founded and leads.
Immigrant's path now under his own scrutiny
Meanwhile, renewed scrutiny has emerged around Musk’s immigration history.
A Washington Post report revealed that after leaving Stanford University in 1995 to launch his first company, Zip2, Musk likely worked in the US without the proper legal authorization.
Legal experts say that foreign students are not allowed to drop out of school and start a company—even if they are not drawing a salary.
Musk has previously said, “I was legally there, but I was meant to be doing student work. I was allowed to do work sort of supporting whatever.”
The report highlights a contradiction with Musk’s current views. While now supporting Donald Trump ’s re-election and his hardline stance on immigration, Musk’s own path to success may have included working in a legal “grey area.”
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