In the wake of Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, I observed in the Evening Standard that “wokeness has been comprehensively defeated in the US election.” Yet, a seismic shift is now underway within the MAGA movement itself. Once laser-focused on dismantling progressive ideologies, the American right has ironically succumbed to its own version of “wokeness,” igniting a civil war among its factions.
The divide, fuelled by ideological clashes between nativist hardliners like Steve Bannon and tech-elite influencers like Elon Musk, threatens to fracture the MAGA coalition. Musk, wielding immense influence via his platform X, holds a distinct advantage, but the ideological battle is exposing deep fault lines within the movement.
The rise of the woke right
According to Alex Nowrasteh of the Cato Institute, the Woke Right mirrors its left-wing counterpart in surprising ways: a fixation on identity politics, a pervasive victim complex, hypersensitivity to perceived slights, tribal affirmative action, and a zero-sum worldview. This cultural evolution among conservatives has led to an internal identity crisis.
For instance, defenders of the January 6 rioters — who paint themselves as unfairly punished patriots — exemplify this victimhood narrative. These individuals recast their violent actions as a stand for the Constitution, deflecting blame onto imagined enemies like Antifa and the “deep state.”
Simultaneously, the right has embraced cancel culture, a tool it once decried. A recent example involves Spectator journalist Jacqueline Street, temporarily banned from X after exposing a popular conspiracy theory. Musk himself orchestrated the ban, showcasing a pettiness reminiscent of the very cancel culture he criticises.
Musk’s algorithmic tweak
Musk’s latest announcement to adjust X’s algorithm to prioritise “informational and entertaining content” has drawn ire within MAGA circles. Critics, including Bannon, view the move as an attack on free speech, aimed at bolstering Trump-aligned narratives while silencing detractors. Bannon lambasted Musk on The War Room podcast, likening his methods to authoritarian regimes.
“[Musk] needs to be loved by the masses,” Bannon quipped. “He’s got a glass jaw…he can’t take criticism.” These tensions were amplified when Musk and his ally Vivek Ramaswamy faced backlash for their perceived leniency on immigration, an issue central to MAGA’s ethos.
Immigration sparks infighting
The conflict reached a fever pitch over Trump’s new AI adviser, Sriram Krishnan, who supports raising the cap on H-1B visas — a programme popular with tech companies for hiring foreign specialists. This stance enraged MAGA purists, who view such policies as a betrayal of America First principles.
Musk poured fuel on the fire by agreeing with an X poster who disparaged Americans as “too ret*rded” for skilled jobs, branding critics as “hateful racists.” Ramaswamy echoed similar sentiments, arguing that American culture undervalues intellectual achievements, favouring social popularity instead.
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This sparked outrage among staunch nationalists, with Trump loyalist Laura Loomer accusing Musk and Ramaswamy of betraying America’s European foundations. Despite the infighting, both factions claim victory, with Trump himself calling for H-1B visa reform to placate the warring sides.
A zero-sum game
Nowrasteh suggests this internecine conflict is a classic zero-sum struggle. Victory for one faction necessitates defeat for the other. The broader picture is one of a movement increasingly consumed by its own contradictions.
With Democrats currently fragmented and unable to present a unified opposition, the Woke Right is left to fight amongst itself. As Bannon and Musk trade barbs, the ideological battle threatens to derail Trump’s return to power.
For now, the MAGA civil war rages on, a stark reminder that identity politics, once the hallmark of the left, has found fertile ground on the right. How this drama unfolds will determine not only the future of the movement but the shape of America’s culture wars in the years to come.
