Elon Musk is renowned for promoting conspiracy theories and white supremacist views through social media platforms. Hence, it shouldn’t be a surprise that he is now slated to become Donald Trump’s top ally in the incoming administration in Washington D.C. What is more concerning however, albeit less surprising, is his open endorsement of far-right political parties, movements and organizations across Europe and his quest for polarizing global opinion, upsetting status quo politics and entrenching Islamophobia in national policy making. While his tweets resulted in a backlash from politicians in Europe who censured the businessman for crass bigotry, Musk is slated to play a key role in Washington D.C.’s policy apparatus as Trump’s policies are instrumentalised and implemented. 

This is dangerous for the international community due to a number of reasons. 

Musk’s Agenda- Divide and Rule 

Musk may be known for being a business magnate, a tycoon and owner of X and Tesla Motors, his crass disregard for international norms, globalization and open endorsement of racial supremacy, Islamophobia and ultraconservatism has made him a polarizing figure. Musk’s views are considered even more alarming given that he hails from Pretoria in South Africa, a country which has had a deep, divisive legacy of racism and apartheid from the white minority government against the predominantly black population. 

His tweets though, suggest that he wants to witness the same bigotry, racism and discriminatory legacy in Europe which excludes and targets non-white, Muslim and immigrant populations.  

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His tweets for example endorse the AfD in Germany, a far-right political party which has been classified as a ‘suspected extremist party’ by the German judiciary. The party campaigns on an anti-Islam, Euroskeptic and anti-immigration platform in post Nazi Germany with close connections to the Islamophobic PEGIDA and the Identitarian Movement in the country. If elected to power, the AfD with its far-right coalition can easily fracture Germany and upend decades of efforts to bury the toxic legacy of Nazism by respective administrations. Musk however, doesn’t seem to care and by claiming that the AFD is the only one which can save Germany, he brazenly endorses a policy of demonization of Muslims, immigrants and non-German minorities. 

And there’s more.

Beyond Europe is post-Brexit United Kingdom which has already been politically fractured between the Labor Party and the Conservatives over policy issues. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer from the Labor party is no stranger to controversy, Musk discussed policy options to oust the British Premier before the next election in the UK and deliberately propped up the child sexual exploitation scandal which the Conservatives did not act upon for fourteen long years. The decision to target Starmer is a brazen display of powerplay from Musk who wants to weaken the Labor Party and ensure that the United Kingdom remains divided on ethnic and religious lines. 

Musk’s attacks on the UK and Germany clearly suggest that he has a grand design for Europe where the white, Anglo-Saxon, German/British elite dominates political, economic and military affairs in their respective countries at the expense of minority populations and so called ‘outsiders’ who are to remain on the fringes. Elon Musk’s endorsement also bodes well for parties such as the AfD with added benefits of requisite political capital and support which allows them to gain more followers, become more firmly entrenched in local politics and enter the mainstream in their respective countries. This translates into more pressure on respective governments over their globalized and inclusive views from Nativists who believe in reviving aggressive nationalism and institutionalizing anti-Islam, anti- immigrant and anti-minority hatred. 

Global Implications

It is also important to remember that Musk’s status as a business tycoon and his key role in the incoming Trump administration would mean that his bigotry would have implications beyond Europe too. In the Palestinian case, Musk’s endorsement of far-right, nativist ideologies would mean an even more open endorsement of the far-right Israeli government than Joe Biden, which will delight the likes of Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir in the process. It will also entrench the already thriving settlement enterprise in the West Bank and give a blanket check for "Israel" to carry out more genocidal killings in Gaza. Note also, that Musk’s endorsement of far-right politics in Europe comes at a time when his boss and chief, Trump stated that if Israeli hostages were not returned, then all ‘hell will break lose’ in the Middle East. Such a toxic combination of far-right white supremacy and an open endorsement of Zionism clearly spells more doom for the region. 

Even in the tech sector which Musk has long laid claim to supporting, enhancing and promoting, the international community should brace for seismic effects. Recall, that when Musk assumed leadership of Twitter and converted it into X, he fired 80% of the Twitter staff and tanked the organization. Since 2022, 80% of Twitter’s value has been lost. Also, Musk promoted fake news on social media platforms, peddled conspiracy theories and promoted divisive and polarizing agendas. With the Trump administration in power, this trend is set to continue which could result in greater unemployment in Europe, loss of profits, shares and values for private corporations, and the muzzling of dissent, voices of reason and calls for an end to crimes against humanity. 

In light of this, Musk’s open endorsement of far-right ideologies, parties and organizations is dangerous for international peace. 

In a deeply polarized and divided world, this is the last thing that is needed.