Recently, Musk spread conspiracy theories about Muslim “grooming gangs” in Britain, and called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist, from prison. Musk's support for Robinson, who has a history of posting racist and Islamophobic content, initially prompted Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to push back against the Ax boss. But this week on a TV show hosted by the right-wing GB News station, Farage appeared to take a knee in front of Musk.
“I don't think so [Robinson’s] He is wrong in everything he says,” Farage told his audience. “I question why he's in jail, and why he's being held in solitary confinement.” (Robinson is in prison after being found guilty of contempt of court for repeating lies about a Syrian refugee.)
last year, Musk spent months annoying Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes The court issued orders to X to remove certain accounts and content that it said violated the law by undermining confidence in the integrity of the country's elections. After Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro loses re-election in 2022, his supporters Attacked the country's legislature on January 8, 2023Claiming that the election was stolen (it was not) echoing the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Moraes was a fanatic Bolsonaro's rivalsThe X refused to follow the order, spent several months, even submitted a sealed court order to the US Congress sub -committee on the handicap of the federal government led by right -wing Congress Jim Jordan, which later publicly gave them public Released.
At the time, many in Brazil felt that Musk's actions, as well as the issuance of the orders, were a move to undermine the country's democracy and sovereignty. A Brazilian court eventually issued an order blocking X in the country for non-compliance and issued a fine against Musk-owned Starlink, after which X complied with the orders.
He also fiercely Nicolas Maduro attackedPresident of Venezuela, during the country's elections (which many in the international community believe were rigged).
“They have established themselves as a powerful connection center between different groups of people in many countries,” says Christian Katzenbach, professor of media and communications at the University of Bremen. Those groups include people in the tech industry, liberal conservatives, proponents of economic liberalism, and people in right-wing movements. “These groups did not have much connection in the past, but are increasingly uniting in opposition to modern center/left governments.” He says that by amplifying a diversity of voices, Musk is actively bringing right-wing perspectives into mainstream debates and opening up new population groups as voters for right-wing parties.
Even outside the elections, Musk is seen forming alliances with like-minded leaders. In April, Musk meets Argentina's right-wing President Javier MileyMiley's government has cut expenses like Musk's said in an x post “Will be a helpful model for the rest of the world.” Argentina's poverty rate under Miley's government has exceeded 50 percent,
And while Musk certainly appears to be motivated by particular political ideologies, Katzenbach says Musk's involvement in European politics could benefit his business interests, particularly his efforts to roll back social media regulations in the bloc or his companies. By opening new avenues for. The European Union is currently probe x For violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which may result in fines. Musk is in Italy Search for an agreement with the right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni A $1.5 billion deal to launch satellite communications via Starlink, which will compete with the European Satellite Initiative.
“His intentions internationally are certainly mixed,” says Katzenbach. But either way, Musk is determined to become a political force beyond any national boundaries.
David Gilbert contributed reporting.