Musk’s remark came as a reply to entrepreneur Joe Lonsdale, who had highlighted Sriram Krishnan’s recent role in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Elon Musk has dismissed the “fixed pie” fallacy in economics, advocating for infinite possibilities in
job creation
while supporting Sriram Krishnan’s call for
skilled immigration
reform. Musk, in a post on X, declared, “The ‘fixed pie’ fallacy is at the heart of much wrong-headed economic thinking. There is essentially infinite potential for job and company creation. Think of all the things that didn’t exist 20 or 30 years ago!”
Musk's comments spark debate
Musk’s remark came as a reply to entrepreneur Joe Lonsdale, who had highlighted Sriram Krishnan’s recent role in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Krishnan, a tech executive and policy advocate, has made headlines for his stance on skilled immigration.
Last month, Krishnan called for removing caps on green cards, particularly those limiting skilled immigration based on birthplace. Responding to a Musk post about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new initiative Musk co-chairs with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Krishnan tweeted, “Anything to remove country caps for green cards/unlock skilled immigration would be huge.”
Krishnan further elaborated, “Simple logic – we need the best, regardless of where they happen to be born. (Another bizarre quirk – the country cap is where you were born, not even citizenship).”
David Sacks backs merit-based immigration
David Sacks, tapped by Trump to lead White House efforts on AI and cryptocurrency, lent his support to Krishnan’s proposal. Sacks clarified Krishnan’s stance in a post on X earlier this week, emphasizing a merit-based approach to immigration.
“Sriram still supports skills-based criteria for receiving a green card, not making the program unlimited. In fact, he wants to make the program entirely merit-based,” Sacks wrote. Musk endorsed the idea, replying, “Makes sense.”
Trump’s vision for AI policy
Trump’s appointment of Krishnan as senior policy adviser for artificial intelligence has added weight to the conversation. Announcing the role on Truth Social, Trump said, “Working closely with David Sacks, Sriram will focus on ensuring continued American leadership in AI and help shape and coordinate AI policy across Government, including working with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.”
This collaboration underscores Trump’s focus on advancing American AI innovation while addressing skilled immigration policies—a move Musk appears to support.
A vision for the future
Musk’s emphasis on “infinite potential” for job creation dovetails with his broader vision for economic growth driven by innovation. His remarks reflect a growing sentiment in tech circles advocating for immigration reform to bolster competitiveness.
As the U.S. gears up for a transformative AI era, the convergence of policy leaders like Krishnan, Sacks, and Musk signals a shift toward pragmatic solutions. With Musk's endorsement of skills-based immigration, the tech world will be watching closely as the new administration shapes the future of American innovation.