Elon Musk Faces Backlash Over Racist Posts
▼ Summary
– Elon Musk used his platform X to spread and endorse claims about white people facing extinction and that Somali immigrants have no right to be in America.
– He amplified posts from far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson, and shared content linking Somali immigrants to crime and alleging fraud in resettlement programs.
– Musk promoted the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, asserting immigration is a Democratic plot to gain power by importing voters.
– His posts demonstrated alignment with Donald Trump, reposting videos of Trump and his adviser making similar anti-immigrant statements.
– Musk’s past controversial statements led some advertisers to leave X, but legal and political pressure has reportedly made brands fearful of pulling ads.
The recent online activity of billionaire Elon Musk has ignited significant controversy, drawing sharp criticism for amplifying racist and xenophobic narratives on his social media platform. Musk spent the past day endorsing and spreading claims that “White people are on the verge of extinction,” accused Somali immigrants of having “no right to be in America,” and labeled nonprofit support for them as “treason.” His commentary, which included simple affirmations like “true” and “simply a fact,” accompanied reposts from far-right figures and accounts, further aligning his public persona with extremist viewpoints.
Many of the posts Musk engaged with centered on legal cases in Minnesota, home to a large Somali American community. He shared content about an investigation into public assistance fraud and highlighted a specific criminal case involving a Somali immigrant. Among the accounts he amplified was that of the banned UK far-right figure Tommy Robinson, whom Musk reinstated on the platform. Robinson’s post, which Musk reposted, mischaracterized federal refugee resettlement funds as payments for bringing immigrants into the country, calling it treason. Another widely followed account asserted that Somalis do not integrate and “carry over their clan mentalities,” a statement Musk chose to broadcast to his massive audience.
Beyond sharing others’ content, Musk contributed his own statements on demographic shifts. He warned that white people could become “virtually extinct” if current population trends continue. This rhetoric dovetails with his repeated promotion of the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, which falsely claims liberals are orchestrating mass immigration to displace white voters and secure political power. He explicitly tied immigration to a Democratic plot, writing, “The far left imported voters to gain power and it worked,” while quoting a post that falsely attacked Representative Ilhan Omar.
This series of posts also served to underscore Musk’s political alignment with former President Donald Trump. He shared a video of Trump expressing fondness for him, as well as content from Trump adviser Stephen Miller. This comes just after Trump himself made disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants, stating they “contribute nothing” to the country. Musk’s actions represent a deepening alliance with figures known for anti-immigrant and nationalist rhetoric.
Historically, such statements from the owner of a major advertising platform would trigger immediate backlash from corporate partners. Last year, major companies like IBM and Apple paused their advertising on X after Musk endorsed antisemitic content. However, the landscape has shifted. Musk responded to that boycott with lawsuits against some advertisers, and political pressure has reportedly made brands cautious about withdrawing their spending. An advertising consulting firm CEO noted earlier this year that companies now fear the “legal and political ramifications” of leaving the platform, suggesting Musk’s combative strategy has created a chilling effect on corporate accountability.
(Source: The Verge)
