President Joe Biden has criticized Elon Musk for what he called immigration hypocrisy following a report alleging the billionaire entrepreneur worked illegally in the United States.

The complaint was reported by The Washington Post and was firmly denied by the Tesla CEO.

Musk is the richest person in the world and owns became one of Trump’s largest donors in the 2024 elections.

Biden accuses Musk of hypocrisy

Speaking at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Biden accused South African-born Musk of violating immigration laws early in his career while on a visa student.

“This richest man in the world turned out to be an illegal worker here. No, I’m serious,” Biden remarked at an event at a union hall.

“He was supposed to be at school when he arrived on a student visa. He wasn’t at school. He was breaking the law. And he’s talking about all these illegal immigrants coming our way?”

Musk worked on a student visa: report

According to The Washington PostMusk arrived in Palo Alto, California, in 1995 to attend Stanford University but never officially enrolled in classes.

Instead, the report says the South African-born entrepreneur focused on launching his startup, Zip2.

Citing internal company documents, court records and accounts of former business partners, the report suggests that Elon Musk was not authorized to work in the United States at the time.

In response to a video clip of Biden’s remarks circulating on social media, Musk turned to X, formerly known as Twitterto refute this claim, stating: “I was actually authorized to work in the United States.”

He added: “The Biden puppet is lying. »

The report states that Zip2 investors in the mid-1990s were concerned about Musk’s potential deportation and set a deadline for Musk to obtain a work visa.

The investigation cited a 2005 email Musk sent to his Tesla co-founders in which he allegedly acknowledged his lack of legal authorization to work.

This email was introduced as evidence in a now-settled defamation lawsuit in California.

The associated press requested comment from X and Tesla regarding Biden’s remarks.

Musk’s support for Trump

Musk contributed more than $70 million to supporting former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and other GOP candidates.

Trump has publicly pledged to offer Musk a significant role in his administration if he wins next month.

Musk is leading an initiative that involves awarding a $1 million prize daily to someone who signs an online petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.

The petition targets registered voters in swing states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Petition signers also currently receive a $47 payment for each registered voter they recommend, as well as a $100 payment for registered voters in Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia district attorney filed a complaint Monday to stop Elon Muskthe plan.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called Musk’s U.S. PAC’s daily giveaway plan an “illegal lottery.”

The trial follows a warning from the United States Ministry of Justice that the draw could violate federal election law.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press