Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, faces new scrutiny about his citizenship status despite being a US citizen for more than 20 years.
Questions about his nationality resurfaced following recent political discourse about his role as a “special government employee” under President Donald Trump's administration. Additionally, Musk heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly formed agency aimed at reducing federal spending and streamlining operations.
Why is it important?
Musk's citizenship status has been a key point in political debate in recent weeks.
“I'm proud of what America did to win the Cold War, defeat Soviet Communism and defend democracy. Our country was in support of freedom,” said former lawmaker Liz. Cheney said earlier this month on X (formerly Twitter). In 2002, Musk's naturalization at the time wrote, “You may be unfamiliar with that part of our history, as you were not yet an American citizen.”
His journey to American citizenship highlights a broader conversation for entrepreneurs and investors about the pathways to advanced immigration and naturalization.
Alex Brandon/AP Photo
Is Elon Musk a naturally born US citizen?
No, Elon Musk is not a natural-born American citizen. He was born on June 28, 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. His mother, May Musk, is Canadian and was able to obtain Canadian citizenship in 1989. He moved to Canada at the age of 17, studying at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, before moving to the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, where he edited it with an exchange visitor visa. , according to northjersey.com.
Musk was not born in the United States, and he is not entitled to run for President of the United States, as the constitution requires a naturally born citizenship for president.
When did Elon Musk move to the US?
Musk moved to the United States in 1992 to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He initially moved to a work visa and entered the country on an exchange visitor visa before eventually gaining citizenship.
When did Elon Musk become a US citizen?
He later became a US citizen in 2002 through naturalization. As CNN reported last year, Musk said his immigration route includes a “gray area” regarding his job eligibility in Silicon Valley during his early career .
Why did Elon Musk move to the US?
Musk says he moved to the US because it provided greater opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. He went to university and later pursued business ventures that played a major role in the growth of Tesla and founding SpaceX, including co-founding companies such as ZIP2, an online business directory, and XIP2, an online bank that later became PayPal. did.
Is Elon Musk banned from South Africa?
There are no official records or reliable reports indicating that masks are banned from South Africa. He remains a citizen of the country along with his US and Canadian citizenship.
Musk spoke about avoiding forced military service in South Africa. This was a requirement for adolescence under the apartheid government. By moving to Canada at the age of 17 he was able to bypass draft law. This was a must for white men at the time.
Are Elon Musk's children US citizens?
Yes, many of Musk's children are American citizens at birth because they were born in the United States. His children also have Canadian citizenship due to the nationality of their mother. The mask has given birth to 12 children, with three women.
What people are saying
American lawyer Dean Obeidala is a comedian and host of Sirius XM Progress, the Dean Obeidala Show, was posted on X on January 12th.
Severely Following Truths Posted on February 12th Now X Account @Sxdoc: “Musk became a US citizen about 10 years after his first arrival in the country in 2002. He is from South Africa, but he has many I'm American like immigrants.”
What's next?
Musk's naturalization as a US citizen has been resolved, but his involvement in federal issues raises questions about the role of naturalized citizens in high-level advice sites.
