Thanks Jack. To be clear, I am not a conservative. Am registered independent & politically moderate. Doesn't mean I'm moderate about all issues. Humanitarian issues are extremely important to me & I don't understand why they are not important to everyone.
In 2016, prompted by the emergence of artificial intelligence, Musk has voiced support for auniversal basic income;[33] he additionally backsdirect democracy and has stated he thinks the government on Mars will be a direct democracy.[34] He supported targeting an inclusive tax rate of 40%; prefersconsumption taxes toincome taxes; and supports theestate tax, as the "probability of progeny being equally excellent at capital allocation is not high."[35] In an interview withThe Washington Post, Musk stated he was a significant donor to Democrats and also gives heavily to Republicans. Musk further stated that political contributions are a requirement in order to have a voice in theUnited States federal government.[36][37]
In 2019, Musk tweeted in support of the Democratic presidential candidateAndrew Yang, agreeing that universal basic income was required.[38] The following year, Musk voiced support forKanye West's independentrun for president.[39] Musk at the time described the United States as "[inarguably] thegreatest country that has ever existed on Earth", describing it as "the greatest force for good of any country that's ever been." Musk believes democracy would not exist any longer if not for the United States, saying that it prevented this disappearance on three occasions through its participation inWorld War I,World War II, and theCold War, while believing the country is not perfect and has made many mistakes.[40]
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Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics.
In 2021, in response toTexas governorGreg Abbott saying that Musk supported Texas' "social policies", Musk said he believed government "should rarely impose its will upon the people".[42] The following year, Musk said that he could "no longer support" the Democrats, saying that "they have become the party of division & hate" and would be voting Republican due to Biden's support forunions and his inability to "get a lot done".[43][44]
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
I voted for Mayra Flores – first time I ever voted Republican.Massive red wave in 2022.
In January 2024, Musk participated in a forum withBill Ackman and Democraticpresidential primary challenger,RepresentativeDean Phillips regarding hispresidential bid.[50][51] During the forum, after hearing about the various challenges the Democratic Party presented to Phillips's campaign, Musk denounced the process of removing candidates from ballots as being "fundamentally anti-democratic".[52] In July 2024, Musk calledKamala Harris an "extinctionist" due to comments about young people being anxious about having kids due to climate change.[53]
Before the election of Donald Trump aspresident of the United States in November 2016, Musk criticized Trump by saying he was "not the right guy" and did not have the "character that reflects well on the United States".[16][61] FollowingTrump's inauguration in January 2017, Musk accepted an invitation to participate in two councils advising the president,[62] and also criticizedTrump's travel ban, regarding "citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries".[43][63] In June, a few months later, he resigned from both business advisory councils in protest of Trump's decision towithdraw the United States from theParis Agreement on climate change, stating: "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world".[64][65]
In May 2020, amidst Musk's restarting of Tesla assembly plant production during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Trump tweeted in support of Musk, which Musk publicly thanked him for.[66][67] According toWalter Isaacson'sbiography of Musk, he reportedly did not vote in the 2020 presidential election since he believed that it was a waste of time to vote due to California being an uncontested state.[68][69]
Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America.If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win – he doesn't even need to campaign.
When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it's electric cars that don't drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies he'd be worthless, and telling me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, 'drop to your knees and beg,' and he would have done it.
In July 2022, Trump referred to Musk as a "bullshit artist" and called Musk's contract with Twitter "rotten".[72][73] Musk responded by describing Trump as being too old for the presidency, instead favoringRon DeSantis for the 2024 presidential election.[43][74] Afterwards, Trump stated onTruth Social that Musk had come to the White House requesting help with subsidized projects and that had he been asked to beg, "he would have done it".[43][71] Trump also said on Truth Social that "Now Elon should focus on getting himself out of the Twitter mess because he could owe $44 billion for something that's perhaps worthless. Also, lots of competition for electric cars!".[43][71]
In 2022, afterTrump's Twitter suspension was reversed, Musk told Isaacson about Trump that "he's disruptive. He's the world's champion of bullshit."[75] In 2024,New York Magazine described the feud over the past few years as "on-again, off-again".[43]
Musk with then-president-electDonald Trump in November 2024
In September 2024, followinganother attempted assassination of Trump, Musk received backlash after posting the now-deleted tweet: "And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala".[83][84] The following month, at a rally inButler, Pennsylvania, Musk declared the presidential election crucial for preserving democracy, stating that Donald Trump was the only candidate capable of achieving this. Wearing a black "Make America Great Again" cap, he warned that if Trump lost, it might be the last election, marking his first appearance at a Trump event. Musk positioned Trump as a champion of free speech, and accused Democrats of threatening various rights, including the right to vote.[85]
In December 2024,The Washington Post reported that Musk had donated $277 million to Trump and allied Republicans, making him the single largest individual political donor in the 2024 election and the largest donor since at least 2010, not counting candidates who funded their own campaigns, according to data from OpenSecrets.The Post described Musk as being referred to by some Republicans as "theSoros of the right".[19]
The concept of theDepartment of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a department for streamlining government efficiency, emerged in a discussion betweenMusk andTrump, and in August 2024, Trump committed to giving Musk an advisory role, with Musk accepting the offer.[87] Musk was described as having more of a "technology approach", according toVivek Ramaswamy, who was originally intended co-chair the department alongside Musk.[88][89] In November 2024, he suggested that the organization could help to cut theU.S. federal budget, consolidate the number of federal agencies,[90][91] and eliminate theConsumer Financial Protection Bureau.[92][93] The following month, he described the final stage of DOGE as "deleting itself".[94] Whilehis official role is not clear,[95] he was given "special government employee" status,[20] with the organization created byexecutive order in January 2025.[21] Soon after, Musk was criticised for his treatment towards employees,[96][97][98] prioritized secrecy within the organization,[99] and accused others of violating privacy laws,[100] stating "Don't mess with DOGE" on X.[101]
Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.
Musk calls himself "afree speech absolutist",[22][23] identifying his definition of free speech as "that which matches the law", while advocating that corporate censorship of speech should not go significantly beyond minimum legal requirements.[103][104] He has attempted to silence some critics' speech,[105] including journalists and non-profit organisations,[22][106] and engaged incensorship on behalf of Twitter.[23]
I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy.
However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.
In April 2022, Musk made an offer to buyTwitter, believing that "free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy".[108] Since Musk's acquisition of Twitter, the platform has increased its approval of censorship requests by governments.[109] During the2023 Turkish presidential election, Twitter limited access to content in Turkey, including critics of incumbent presidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, political opponents, and journalists. Musk defended this move by stating that the alternative would have been to "throttle [Twitter] in its entirety", and said it was normal for Internet companies to do.[110][111] Twitter has also censored tweets and blocked accounts that are critical of India's prime ministerNarendra Modi and hisBharatiya Janata Party, with Musk stating that Twitter is left with no choice but to "obey local government",[104] as a believer in upholding lawful censorship requests.[103]Twitter has filed strategic lawsuits against public participation for some U.S. critics,[112][113] and it is facing a speech-related case involving a critic in Germany.[114] Musk has also called for several of his critics to be criminally prosecuted.[115]
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Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
Truth Social (terrible name) exists because Twitter censored free speech
According to Musk, thealt-tech platform,Truth Social,[b] exists because of censorship on Twitter, noting the application's rank in popularity above Twitter and TikTok in the Apple store.[103] In May 2022, Musk called Twitter's decision to ban Trump "morally wrong", announcing he would reverse Trump's ban whenafter purchasing Twitter.[117]
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Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
My commitment to free speech extends even to not banning the account following my plane, even though that is a direct personal safety risk
In February 2025, Tesla fired a manager who had been openly critical of Musk, a move seen at odds with Musk's purported free speech views.[123][124] In March 2025, Musk pressuredReddit CEOSteve Huffman to prevent subreddits from banning links to Twitter and ban subreddits critical of theTrump administration, leading to the r/WhitePeopleofTwitter subreddit being banned for 72 hours.[125] In an interview, Musk said he would be working with the Trump administration to "go after" people "pushing the lies" about Tesla.[126]
In the aftermath of theUvalde school shooting in 2022, Musk supported strict background checks on all gun purchases and limiting the sale ofassault rifles to those living in "high risk" locations with issues such as "gang warfare" and to owners ofgun ranges. Believing in a special permit and vigorous vetting, Musk has said that he firmly believes "that theright to bear arms is an important safeguard against potential tyranny of government. Historically, maintaining their power over the people is why those in power did not allow public ownership of guns".[127][128]
[Musk] has for years been aligning himself with conservative causes such as vaccine skepticism and stopping illegal immigration. But his full embrace of the right-wing ethos marks a radical transformation for a Silicon Valley tech legend who rose to prominence as the visionary behind Tesla Inc., an electric-car company positioned at the forefront of the environmental movement.
Having previously been described as a "Silicon Valley libertarian",[11] in late 2022,The Atlantic wrote that Musk was "a right-wing activist" who was aiding the far-right, and "appears deeply committed to the right'sculture war against progressivism in most forms", while Musk affirmed he was acentrist. The magazine described his activism as being "personally motivated", as opposed to ideologically motivated.[7] A year later, theNew Statesman described his libertarianism as being "infused withauthoritarian tendencies".[5] In July 2024,Bloomberg declared Musk was "going all in onright-wing politics" and embracing theconservative movement.[8] In October, aCNN reporter described Musk as finding Trump's authoritarian leanings appealing,[129] and a month later,The Spectator credited Musk with bringing "thetechno-libertarian elite, a small but very wealthy group, into Trump's largely blue-collar, industrial and conservative base", thus increasing the support base.[14]
Musk became an authoritarian by radicalizing his economic libertarianism. His transformation from a politically liberal to an authoritarian agitator is primarily due to the suspicion of a blocking of the meritocratic principle.
In early 2025,The Conversation analysed Musk's path towards far-right politics within the context of "the libertarian toalt-right pipeline"[c] and the shift of theLibertarian Party to the right. The magazine stated that "he remains alimited-government libertarian", and that hisonline personality is "part of a deliberate alt-rightpopulist strategy to stoke controversy", intended to disturb the left and claim persecution when criticized.[1]Wired opined that Musk had become "the hero of America's far-right movement", and had become paramount within far-right community discussions.[2]Jacobin defined his politics aslibertarian authoritarianism,[d] based on his political activities combining "authoritarian nationalism with a distinctive postmodern, libertarian streak". The magazine attributed his transition into a "chief amplifier of global authoritarianism", based on his past criticisms ofBlack Lives Matter,diversity, equity and inclusion, and "wokeness", describing Musk as "the first truly global oligarch".[6]
Is Elon Musk a Nazi? Nazis seem to think so. Christian nationalists, white supremacists and avowed neo-Nazis in the US all hailed Musk's salute as a historic comeback for their cause.
Al Jazeera reported that although Musk was supported by somefor his salute, hispublic persona remains libertarian; described as passionately protesting against regulation, government waste, and "freeing the potential of the market and of individuals". Political scientistJean-Yves Camus argued that Musk is not a Nazi, and alongside Trump, is "self-serving rather than ideological" who instead favours anautocracy,[130] andThe Guardian hypothesised that his "closeness with rightwing populist parties" may be of benefit to his businesses.[9]The Nation warned that Musk has raised "the specter of massive corruption and authoritarianism to an immediate threat",[131] after U.S. SenatorBernie Sanders described Trump and Musk's attempts to restructure thefederal government as "the growth of oligarchy", and part of the shift towards authoritarianism.[132]
Musk's posts about immigration primarily promote misleading narratives: that the election will be unfair because of migrants; that migrants are dangerous, and flooding unchecked into the country; that the vast majority of immigrants have not settled into the US in the "right" way; that migrants have gotten unreasonable, special treatment from the government; and that Democrats are responsible for ushering in large numbers of migrants who go on to commit crimes in the US.
Musk has regularly criticized American andEuropean immigration policies. Animmigrant himself,[134] he is described as being "anti-immigration" and has distributed false information regarding immigration and voter fraud,[24] promoted misleading narratives,[133] and engaged in misinformation.[135]
Since the inauguration of theBiden administration in 2021, Musk has expressed various disapprovals of its immigration policies, regularly criticizingillegal immigration and the crimes allegedly committed by them, and has promoted the theory that an increase in illegal immigration is the alleged goal of "importing voters".[24][135] Musk clarified his opinion that votes are coming from counting unauthorized immigrants during the census, which shifts the proportion of seats in theHouse of Representatives toward states with large number of undocumented immigrants, with such states predominantly voting for Democrats.[136] Analysis fromBloomberg described his posts on the topic as those that "primarily promote misleading narratives", and helps amplifyTrump's policies on immigration.[133]BBC Verify reported that Musk's engagement with misinformation on the subject was a "key theme" since endorsing Trump in July 2024,[135] andThe Washington Post likened the imported voters theory as being "adjacent rhetoric" to the"great replacement" conspiracy theory.[137] That year, Musk reached over one thousands tweets and over 10 billion views on the topic of immigration and voter fraud, which became his most tweeted topic.[133]
In September 2023, Musklivestreamed a visit to theTexas border with Mexico during an influx in migrant arrivals. Musk called for improving the immigration system to allow more "hard-working and honest" migrants, while also stopping illegal migrants who are breaking the law.[141] That same month, Musk retweeted a video that showed a non-governmental organization working to assistmigrants in theMediterranean with the caption about Germany NGO ships "collecting illegal immigrants to be unloaded in Italy". Musk's retweet bore the caption "Is the German public aware of this?" to which theGerman Foreign Ministry responded "Yes. And it's called saving lives." Musk responded to the Foreign Ministry declaring that Germany had violated sovereignty with the remark "Has invasion vibes".[142][143][144]
Avatar of Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
(@SenSanders)
tweeted:
Elon Musk is wrong.
The main function of the H-1B visa program is not to hire "the best and the brightest", but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad.
The cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make.
Musk has defended the use ofH-1B visas to attract highly skilled workers to the U.S,[146][147] having once been on the same visa.[148] In December 2024, during a period of online discussion on whether H-1B visas should be reformed, he said thatSilicon Valley firms need foreign workers (via H-1B) because there aren't enough "super motivated" and "super talented engineers" in America.[149] This was controversial and drew criticism from opponents of immigration who believe that importing foreign workers would negatively impact American workers,[150] and the debate was dubbed the "MAGA Civil War".[151][152][153] U.S. SenatorBernie Sanders criticised Musk's stance, viewing it as the importation of cheap labour that benefits billionaires.[154]
After multipleUnited States federal judges ruled against the Trump administration's actions, Musk in February 2025 proposed "an immediate wave of judicial impeachments".[155] Musk in March 2025 declared: "It's like any federal judge can stop any action by the President of the United States. This is insane, and this has got to stop … at the federal level and at the state level".[156]
Following thekilling of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina in August 2025, Musk criticized judges and district attorneys for allowing "criminals to walk free."[157]
I disagree with the idea of unions. I just don't like anything which creates a lords and peasants sort of thing. I think the unions naturally try to create negativity in a company.
Musk has been critical of trade unions.[43] In December 2023, Musk commented that he disagreed with "the idea of unions", describing a "lords and peasants" scenario.[159][158] In 2018, Musk tweeted "Nothing stopping Tesla team at our car plant from voting union ... But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing?" while theUnited Auto Workers (UAW) union wascampaigning at Tesla, in theFremont Factory in California.[160]
In February 2023, following racist comments from cartoonistScott Adams in which he described Black people as ahate group and encouragedracial segregation,[161] Musk opined that the media was being racist against Whites and Asians.[162] Musk has amplified false claims ofwhite genocide in South Africa.[163]
I'll say what I want, and if the consequence of that is losing money, so be it, [...]
In May 2023, Musk attackedGeorge Soros on Twitter after the investor sold a small stake in Tesla, comparing Soros to the Jewish supervillainMagneto.[165][166] In his defence, Musk stated he believes Soros wanted to "erode the very fabric of civilization". Musk's comment was criticized as beingantisemitic by theAnti-Defamation League (ADL), noting that Soros had long been thetarget of conspiracy theories,[167][168] and by a member of theIsraeli Foreign Ministry.[169] He was also defended by a minister of Israeli'sMinistry of Diaspora Affairs, who deemed the post as not being antisemitic.[170] Musk later denied being antisemitic and described himself as a "pro-Semite".[164]
In August 2023, Musk criticized the "Kill the Boer" song which was sung byJulius Malema during a rally for thefar-left South African political partyEconomic Freedom Fighters, asserting that the song advocated thegenocide of white people,[171] which was rejected by Malema.[172] A month later, Musk assuredBenjamin Netanyahu that he was against antisemitism.[173] Musk discussed the issues online with a panel ofright-leaning Jewish leaders including former Israeli presidentReuven Rivlin, attorneyAlan Dershowitz, who represented Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial, as well as severalRabbis includingShmuley Boteach, where Musk denied allegations of antisemitism and cited the suspension ofKanye West as an example of enforcement on his platform. The group also criticized the ADL's criticism of Musk.[174]
Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.
I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest shit now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don't exactly like them too much.
If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself. Go fuck yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.
Elon Musk, at the DealBook Summit, November 27, 2023[179]
In November 2023, Musk posted a response in which he expressed his agreement with an antisemitic tweet in which Jews were described as promoting "hatred against whites", writing "You have said the actual truth."[180] Following this, Musk said it was "super messed-up" that white people are not "allowed to be proud of their race."[181] He was condemned by theWhite House for his post, described as a "hideous lie".[182] Musk later acknowledged the tweet as a mistake, saying "I handed a loaded gun to those who hate me and to those who are antisemitic and for that I am quite sorry"[183] and described his tweet as very foolish.[184][185]
Musk stated that he doesn't believe that "all Jewish communities" promote dialectical hatred towards white people and that he was "deeply offended" by the ADL, while denouncing what he described as "anti-white racism or anti-Asian racism or racism".[186] He also tweeted that his criticism of Jews applies to more groups than just the ADL.[187] At the DealBook Summit, journalistAndrew Ross Sorkin questioned Musk about the withdrawal of advertisers from X following his recent posts, and Musk responded denouncing advertisers of blackmail and stated "Go fuck yourself".[179][188]
In August 2024, Musk ignited a controversy after he shared an allegedlyIslamophobic meme.[189] He subsequently feuded withFirst Minister of ScotlandHumza Yousaf, who described him as "one of the most dangerous men on the planet" and a "race baiter" who should be held to account. Musk responded that Yousaf is a racist "scumbag" who "loathes white people".[189][190]
In 2018, Musk shared a post by Tesla, about the company's ranking on theCorporate Equality Index; Tesla stated, "Thanks to everyone at Tesla for makingLGBTQ inclusion an important part of our culture."[192] Musk commented, in reply to another user, "Don't buy our car if that's a problem. People should be free to live their lives where their heart takes them".[193] In 2022, Musk reaffirmed those comments,[194] and also posted, "Tesla scores 100/100 for 7th year in a row forLGBTQ equality" on the Corporate Equality Index.[195][196]
Following Musk's takeover ofTwitter in October 2022, the platform has seen an increase inhate speech toward the LGBTQ community, for which he has received criticism.[197][198]
In July 2024, Musk said that a California law which bans teachers from being required to report a change in a child'sgender identity orsexual orientation was the "final straw" in deciding to move the headquarters of SpaceX and Twitter from California to Texas.[201][202][203]
In July 2020, Musk made headlines when he tweeted "Pronouns suck." The tweet was interpreted byThe Independent as a slight topreferred gender pronouns, and was criticized by many, includingLGBTQ advocacy groupHuman Rights Campaign and Musk's then partnerGrimes.[206][207] In a later tweet, Musk stated he supported "trans", but that pronouns are "anesthetic nightmare".[208] In December 2022, Musk again mocked preferred gender pronouns in a tweet that read "My Pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci."The Atlantic opined that this tweet revealed Musk as afar-right activist.[209] In a 2023 interview, Grimes said she discussed transgender topics with Musk at length. She recounted that Musk's views appeared to her to stem from "hate [of] woke culture" and his "concerns about the fertility thing"; Grimes said to him that "fertility tech … could be innovated that would help trans people".[210][211] Musk stated in 2024 that he personally does use people's preferred gender pronouns, from a "standpoint ofgood manners".[212]
In 2020, Musk's daughter,Vivian Wilson, underwent agender transition. Wilson changed her name, and no longer wished to be associated with her father.[208]Walter Isaacson, who wrotea 2023 authorized biography of Musk, stated that Musk was "generally sanguine" when he initially discovered Wilson was transgender, "but then Jenna[e] became a ferventMarxist and broke off all relations".[214] However, Isaacson's book states that due to disagreements about capitalism, Musk and Wilson were already "estranged" before Musk knew she was transgender.[208] Isaacson wrote that Musk became politically more right-leaning in 2021, "partly triggered by his daughter Jenna's transition, her embrace of radical socialist politics, and her decision to break off relations with him."[215][216] (Wilson said this was inaccurate for multiple reasons, e.g. that she opposeswealth inequality but is not Marxist.[213]) Musk said in Isaacson's book that "she went beyond socialism to being a full communist and thinking that anyone rich is evil. … I've made many overtures but she doesn't want to spend time with me."[208]
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
Repeated, targeted harassment against any account will cause the harassing accounts to receive, at minimum, temporary suspensions. The words "cis" or "cisgender" are considered slurs on this platform.
In April 2023, Twitter quietly removed a policy prohibiting targeteddeadnaming andmisgendering of transgender users.[218] This policy was reintroduced in 2024, however, Musk said it would be sparingly enforced, to reduce visibility of posts considered to be "repeated, targeted harassment of a particular person."[219][212] In June 2023, Musk deemed the wordcisgender a slur, stating that it violated Twitter's conduct policy.[220] That same month,What Is a Woman?, a controversial documentary about transgender issues that was initially flagged by Twitter as hate speech, went viral after Musk personally promoted it and pinned it to his profile.[221] Musk has also expressed opposition togender-affirming care for minors and has stated he will be "actively lobbying to criminalize" such care.[222] In July 2024, Musk said his daughter'sgender dysphoria was related to being "born gay andslightly autistic";[223][213] he said hegave parental consent for her transition at the age of 16, but that he was "essentially tricked" into doing so.[223][213] (Wilson disputes this, saying Musk was "not by any means tricked" but rather gaveinformed consent; she has alsocome out asbisexual rather than gay.[223][213])
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
Cis is a heterophobic word. Shame on anyone who uses it.
I'm increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don't do something very foolish.
Musk has frequently spoken about thepotential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), declaring it as "the most serious threat to the survival of the human race".[228] During a 2014 interview at theMIT AeroAstro Centennial Symposium, Musk described AI as humanity's largest existential threat, stating his belief in the need forregulatory oversight.[237][238]
I like to just keep an eye on what's going on with artificial intelligence. I think there is potentially a dangerous outcome there. There have been movies about this, you know, like Terminator, [...]
In 2014, Musk expressed his concerns referencingTerminator, stating "we should try to make sure the outcomes are good, not bad".[239] In 2015, as an advisor to the nonprofitFuture of Life Institute, an organization focused on advanced technologies, Musk donated $10 million.[242][243] The following year, when asked whether he thinkshumans live in a computer simulation, perhaps controlled by a vast AI, Musk stated that "the odds that we're in 'base reality' is one in billions."[244] Harvard physicistLisa Randall disputed this arguing there was "no real evidence" of a simulation.[245]
Musk's opinions about AI have provoked controversy and have been criticized by experts such asYann LeCun, who contended that Musk's panic was influenced by readingNick Bostrom's bookSuperintelligence, and by Musk's attraction to the idea that he will save humanity.[246][247]Facebook's head of AI said that Musk was ill-informed about AI and noted that his comments about a future machine takeover distracts people from real, immediate AI concerns, such asalgorithms exacerbating inequality.[248] Consequently, according toCNBC, Musk is "not always looked upon favorably" by the AI research community.[247][246]Mark Zuckerberg has clashed with Musk on the issue and called his AI warnings "pretty irresponsible".[249][250][251]
In November 2024, while speaking at the AI Safety Summit in London, attended by world leaders and tech figures,[253] Musk applauded the Prime MinisterRishi Sunak for hosting the event. In doing so, he reiterated his concerns that the intelligence is "potentially the most pressing [existential risks] that we face", while anticipating that it would become "far more intelligent" than human beings.[28][32][252]
Musk has received criticism over his views and actions related to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[229] In early 2020, Musk referred toCOVID-19 as a "specific form of thecommon cold", stated that "the coronavirus panic is dumb",[255][256] and that the "danger of panic still far exceeds danger of coronaimo. If we over-allocate medical resources to corona, it will come at expense of treating other illnesses".[257][258] Musk has additionally been criticized for tweeting contentious comments on the disease, including that "Kids are essentially immune, but elderly with existing conditions are vulnerable", and for speculating that the pandemic would soon be ending according to "current trends".[229] In addition, he promoted articles which suggested that healthcare companies were inflating COVID-19 case numbers for financial reasons.[259][260]
So, the extension of the shelter-in-place, and frankly I would call it forcibly imprisoning people in their homes against all their constitutional rights — my opinion — and erasing people's freedoms in ways that are horrible and wrong, and not why people came to America or built this country
When theAlameda County Sheriff ordered all non-essential businesses to shut down, Musk and Tesla initially refused to comply, arguing that vehicle manufacturing and energy infrastructure are critical sectors, citing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.[262][263] Musk called the lockdown "fascist" on a Tesla earnings call, comparing the restrictions to forced imprisonment,[261] and later sent out numerous tweets opposing mandatory lockdowns such as "FREE AMERICA NOW."[264]
In March 2020, in response to a request to repurpose the Tesla factory to makeurgently needed ventilators, Musk promised that Tesla would make ventilators "if there is a shortage".[265][266] WhenNate Silver responded that there was a current shortage, Musk replied, "Ventilators are not difficult, but cannot be produced instantly."[267][268] After figures such as New York City mayorBill de Blasio highlighted their hospitals' ventilator shortage and responded to Musk's offer, Musk said he thought the ventilators which Tesla was working on would probably be unneeded.[269][270] A week later, Musk received widespread requests from dignitaries around the world,[271] including the UkrainianHealth minister,[272] Bolivia'sAmbassador for Science and Technology to Silicon Valley,[273] and Nigeria'sMinistry of Finance.[274] When asked about what they received from Musk, California hospital representatives noted that they receivedCPAP machines made byResMed instead and not "full ventilators", though expressed gratitude.[275][276]
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
In May 2020, Musk reopened Tesla's Fremont production line in defiance and violation ofAlameda County's orders and tweeted that "If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me."[278][279][280] Musk also announced that Tesla would be moving its headquarters to Texas orNevada and that Tesla had filed a lawsuit against Alameda County challenging its "shutdown" of the Fremont factory; the suit was subsequently withdrawn.[281][282] The Alameda County Public Health Department explained it was waiting on a plan that Tesla had promised to provide by May 11 that would walk through how it would protect workers' health during the COVID-19 pandemic.[283] An opening date of Monday, May 18 had been penciled in for Tesla, pending approval — the same date that Fiat Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors were also due to restart production.[283]
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
Am getting wildly different results from different labs, but most likely I have a moderate case of covid. My symptoms are that of a minor cold, which is no surprise, since a coronavirus is a type of cold.
In November 2020, the phrase "SpaceKaren" began totrend on Twitter after a scientist referred to Musk as such, over comments Musk made questioning the effectiveness ofCOVID-19 testing.[285][286] Musk was also said to have spreadmisinformation about the virus by virologistAngela Rasmussen.[287][288] with Musk referring to the virus as "a type of cold".[289] The following month,Politico named Musk's prediction that there would be "close to zero new cases" as one of "the most audacious, confident and spectacularly incorrect prognostications about the year".[290] Two years later, Musk tweeted "My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci", drawing attention from US lawmakers.[291][292][293] In February 2023, he praisedanti-vaccine comments made byWoody Harrelson duringSaturday Night Live.[294][295]
In February 2025 Musk claimed during an interview with Fox News'Sean Hannity thatInternational Space Station (ISS) crewSuni Williams andButch Wilmore "were left up there for political reasons, which is not good."[296] This claim was challenged by former ISS commanderAndreas Mogensen which caused Musk to attack Mogensen calling him an "idiot"[297][298] and "fully retarded".[299] Mogensen responded to the attack saying "Elon, I have long admired you and what you have accomplished, especially at SpaceX and Tesla. You know as well as I do, that Butch and Suni are returning with Crew-9, as has been the plan since last September. Even now, you are not sending up a rescue ship to bring them home. They are returning on the Dragon capsule that has been on ISS since last September."[300] Mogensen received the support of fellow astronauts brothersMark Kelly andScott Kelly, Musk responded saying that Mogensen had attacked him "despite having no idea what ACTUALLY happened." and by posting on X at Scott Kelly "Btw, your brother claims to be independent, but is just a Dem donor shill."[301] Musk's innaccurate claim that Williams and Wilmore had been abandoned by the Biden administration was repeated by President Trump.[302]
Following the digital dispute Musk argued that the ISS should be deorbited early and the funds redirected to Mars exploration.[303] Musk clarified that his view was that "The decision is up to the President, but my recommendation is as soon as possible. I recommend 2 years from now,"[304]
Musk has long been an advocate forspace colonization, especially thecolonization of Mars.[230] As early as 2001, Elon became involved with the nonprofitMars Society and has repeatedly pushed for humanity colonizing Mars, in order to become an interplanetary species and lower the risks ofhuman extinction.[306] In 2002 he left the society and began focusing on his own initiatives,[306] and later envisioned establishing adirect democracy on Mars, with a system in which more votes would be required to create laws than remove them.[307] Concerned with humanpopulation decline,[308][309] Musk has described becoming "a multiplanet civilization".[310] Musk has also cited the expansion of the sun as a reason for colonizing mars.[311][312]
Musk has been highly critical of theF-35 program.[313][314] He has also been critical of crewedaircraft in general declaring that "The fighter jet era has passed." at theAir & Space Forces Association's 2020 Air Warfare Symposium[315] and writing "manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed." in 2024.[316]
I think public transport is painful. It sucks. Why do you want to get on something with a lot of other people, that doesn't leave where [sic] you want it to leave, doesn't start where you want it to start, doesn't end where you want it to end? And it doesn't go all the time. [...] It's a pain in the ass. That's why everyone doesn't like it. And there's like a bunch of random strangers, one of who might be a serial killer, OK, great. And so that's why people like individualized transport, that goes where you want, when you want.
At a Tesla event on the sidelines of theConference on Neural Information Processing Systems in December 2017, Musk expressed his disappointment withpublic transport, citing the timing and locations for reasons why "everyone doesn't like it", suggesting this was why people prefer "individualized transport" instead.[317][231]
Afterwards, he dismissed an audience member's response that public transportation functioned effectively in Japan.[318][319] His comments sparked widespread criticism from both members of the public and transit experts. Urban planning expert Brent Toderian started the hashtag #GreatThingsThatHappenedonTransit which was widely adopted by Twitter users in order to dispel Musk's notion that everybody hated public transport.[318][320] Yonah Freemark, an urbanist and journalist specializing in planning and transportation, summarized Musk's views on public transport as being terrible.[317]
Jarrett Walker, a public transport expert, said that "Musk's hatred of sharing space with strangers is a luxury (or pathology) that only the rich can afford", referring to the theory that planning a city around the preferences of a minority yields an outcome that usually does not work for the majority.[321][322] Musk responded with "You're an idiot", then specified "sanctimonious idiot".[323][322] The exchange received a significant amount of media attention and prompted Nobel laureatePaul Krugman to criticise the controversy.[321][324]
In April 2023, Musk said he was againstbanning TikTok in the United States, although he argued that a ban would increase Twitter's active users.[232] In 2024, Musk opposed Australian plans to fine social media sites which enabled misinformation on their platforms,[325] and tolimit social media access for those under 16, with Musk commenting that it "Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians."[326]
In 2019, Musk described his Wikipedia article as "insane" and described it as a "war zone".[327] In 2020, he encouraged his Twitter followers to "trash" the page, which led to the article being protected.[328] In April 2022, Musk tweeted: "They sayhistory is written by the victors, but not on Wikipedia if the losing party is still alive & has lots of time on their hands!", in a reference to the article ofTesla Inc. co-founderMartin Eberhard.[329][330]
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
A two day suspension of maybe 7 accounts for doxxing got an actual Wikipedia page!? Wikipedia is controlled by the MSM journalists. Can't trust that site anymore.
Musk responded to theDecember 2022 Twitter suspensions Wikipedia entry by proclaiming the site was "controlled by the MSM [mainstream media]", and that this makes it untrustworthy. In response, theWikimedia Foundation changed a message appealing for donations to "Wikipedia is not for sale", stating "there is no danger that someone will buy Wikipedia and turn it into their personal playground".[234]
Avatar of Elon Musk
Elon Musk
(@elonmusk)
tweeted:
Wokipedia has a possibly terminal case of the woke mind virus. Reddit too.
In October 2023, Musk criticized Wikipedia as "inherentlyhierarchical" and being "subject to the biases of higher ranking editors." In response to the Wikipedia funding appeal, Musk offered $1 billion in funding if Wikipedia changed its name to "Dickipedia".[333][334][335] In October 2024, Musk stated the website was "controlled by far-left activists", discouraged donations,[235][336] and characterized the online encyclopedia using the phrase "woke mind virus".[233]
In January 2025, Musk called for Wikipedia to be "defunded" and referred to it as "legacy media propaganda", in response to his Wikipedia article being edited to describe thealleged "Nazi salute" he gave during a speech after thesecond inauguration of Donald Trump. Wikipedia co-founderJimmy Wales responded by saying: "If Elon wanted to help, he'd be encouraging kind and thoughtful intellectual people he agrees with to engage."[236][337][338]Le Monde and theAgence France-Presse described Wikipedia as being a "natural adversary to X":[339]
While Musk's animosity toward Wikipedia may focus outwardly on the hand gesture, Wikipedia's goal of factual neutrality makes it a natural adversary to X, a platform increasingly synonymous with heated culture wars, hate speech and disinformation. Wikipedia and the media at large – which Musk has increasingly criticized – also pose a threat by holding him accountable as he thrusts himself into the center of US politics.
In March 2025,Margaret Talbot wrote an article inThe New Yorker dealing with the topic: "Elon Musk Also Has a Problem with Wikipedia".[340] Talbot connected Musk's documented promotion of misinformation[135][133] and his attacks against "mainstream media"[234] with his admiration for "radical-right populism", citing how a study connected such conservative views with the "propensity to spread misinformation":
But lately Musk's beef has merged with a general conviction on the right that Wikipedia... is biased against conservatives... [A study found that] in comparison with other political movements, 'radical-right populism'—of the sort that Musk, with his admiration for Germany's ultranationalistAfD party, seems drawn to—'is the strongest determinant for the propensity to spread misinformation.' Distrust of 'institutions such as mainstream media' and 'hostility towards democratic institutions' were the prime motivators.[340]
Didn't the story come from @bellingcat, which literally specializes in psychological operations?I don't want to hurt their feelings, but this is either the weirdest story ever or a very bad psyop!
In November 2022, Musk shared a right-wingfake news website which promoted a conspiracy theory about theattack on Paul Pelosi.[360][361] The following year, in the wake of amass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, Musk baselessly tried to cast doubt on evidence collected by journalists regarding the shooter's political beliefs, describing the event as a "psyop".[362] Musk doubled down on his denial of the evidence that the shooter was a white supremacist in aCNBC interview 10 days later.[164] Musk also boosted a tweet promoting an antisemiticblood libel conspiracy theory aboutadrenochrome, frequently invoked as part ofQAnon.[363][364]
In November 2023, Musk endorsed a tweet referencing anantisemitic conspiracy theory that "hordes of minorities" are infiltrating Western countries and that Jews are pushing hatred against white people. The White House condemned Musk's endorsement of the tweet as "unacceptable".[365][366] He also shared a meme promoting the widely discredited far-rightPizzagate conspiracy theory, and after a few hours, Musk deleted the tweet.[367]
Musk has spoken against a proposedwealth tax and said that in general he supportedestate taxes.[370][371] He is also opposed toGrantor Retained Annuity Trusts.[372] In 2024 Musk called a proposal from the British government to increase estate taxes on farms valued at more than a million pounds "going full Stalin."[373] Musk is an opponent ofshort-selling, has repeatedly criticized the practice, and argued it should be illegal.[374][375] He has engaged with short-selling critics via social media and used Tesla merchandise as a means of mocking those who short the Tesla stock.[376]
On the topic of subsidizing renewable energy, Musk has stated that he does not believe the U.S. government should providesubsidies to companies but should instead use acarbon tax to price in the negativeexternality ofclimate change and discourage poor behavior. Musk believes that thefree market would achieve the best solution, and that producing environmentally unfriendly vehicles should come with its own consequences.[377][378] Musk has advocated against funding for charging stations in theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, maintaining that oil and gas subsidies should also be eliminated.[379][380] Vermont SenatorBernie Sanders refuted Musk, describing his hypocrisy for receiving "billions in corporate welfare" before opposing a $2 trillion stimulus package that included provisions for specific companies and interest groups.[381] Musk has subsequently doubled down on his stance and called for ending the US $7,500 tax credit for buyers of electric cars.[382]
Speaking atThe Wall Street Journal's CEO Council session in 2021, Musk stated that a decliningbirth rate, and consequent population decline, is one of the biggestrisks to human civilization.[389] The following year, he argued thatpopulation collapse, due to lowbirth rates, is a superior risk to civilization thanglobal warming, and his views on population collapse were challenged by demographers.[390] In 2023, Musk has asserted that decliningbirth rates pose an existential threat to humanity and has donated ten million dollars to theUniversity of Texas at Austin to further research on the potential risks.[391] Musk has also argued that "smart" people in particular are not having children, a view which has been criticized as too close toeugenics.[392] Speaking about natalism in 2024 Musk said "You've got to walk the talk, so I do have a lot of kids and I encourage others to have lots of kids."[393]
I believe in the principles of Christianity like love thy neighbor as thyself (have empathy for all) and turn the other cheek (end the cycle of retribution)
Musk was raised in theAnglican Church, in which he wasbaptized.[395][396] In 2013, when he was asked if he thought thatscience andreligion couldco-exist, Musk replied "Probably not",[397] and in 2017 he denounced a plan to create a religion which is based on the worship of an artificially intelligent 'Godhead'.[398] By 2023, Musk had said that he considers himself "aspirationally Jewish", and noted the influence that his attending a Hebrewpreschool had on him.[399] The following year, Musk tweeted aboutChristianity, stating he is a believer in the principles of Christianity, such aslove thy neighbor as thyself andturn the other cheek.[400][401] He also engaged in a viral two-hour conversation withJordan Peterson that explored various topics, including the role of Christianity in his life. During the interview, he described himself as a "cultural Christian".[400][401][402] In 2024, Musk stated that he is a "big believer in the principles of Christianity".[403]
^According toJacobin, "Libertarian authoritarians want to abolish the democratic state, which they see as a machine that restricts individual freedoms" and "consider the democratic state itself, the authorities and their regulations, to be invasive and harmful."[6]
^Isaacson, including in his book, sometimes refers to Vivian Jenna Wilson by her middle name, Jenna.[213]
^Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (August 6, 2024)."#TwoTierKeir" (Tweet).Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 8, 2025 – viaTwitter.
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