Key facts
- Elon Musk posted 303 times about race and immigration on X between May 31 and June 12, with 70% concerning UK politics.
- In the same period, Musk posted 114 times about SpaceX, which had its IPO on June 12.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Musk of interfering in British politics and inciting division.
- Musk reposted content from far-right figures Rupert Lowe and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
- Musk's engagement with UK race and immigration issues has increased significantly over the past two years.
Elon Musk significantly increased his social media activity concerning UK race and immigration issues in the lead-up to SpaceX's initial public offering, according to a Guardian analysis. Between May 31 and June 12, Musk posted 303 times about race and immigration, with nearly three-quarters of these posts focusing on UK politics. This contrasts with the 114 posts he made about SpaceX during the same period, just before the aerospace and AI company went public on June 12.
This period coincided with heightened tensions in the UK over online activity and protests. UK politicians, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, criticized Musk's posts, accusing him of interfering in British politics and attempting to incite division. Starmer stated that Musk's actions were not representative of Britain's reasonable and tolerant society.
Musk's social media engagement included reposting content from far-right figures such as Rupert Lowe, leader of the Restore Britain party, and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. Musk's posts often touched on themes of multiculturalism and the perceived decline of Western civilization, and he dedicated significant attention to the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, which had sparked claims of 'anti-white' policing.
The analysis also revealed that Musk's focus on UK politics, race, and immigration has intensified over the past two years. Experts suggest that Musk's wealth and his engagement with far-right figures lend a distortional presence and legitimacy to fringe political movements.