Most recently, Musk spread conspiracy theories about Muslim “grooming gangs” in Britain, and called for Tommy Robinson, a right-wing activist, to be released from prison. Musk’s support for Robinson, who has a history of posting racist and Islamophobic content, initially saw British Reform leader Nigel Farage back down against the owner of X. But in a TV show hosted by the right-wing GB News station this week, Farage appeared to bend the knee to Musk. “I don’t think so. [Robinson’s] is wrong in everything he says,” Farage told the audience. “I’m asking why he’s in prison, and in solitary confinement.” (Robinson is in prison after being found in contempt of court for repeatedly lying about Syrian refugees.) Last year, Musk waited several months against Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes after the court ordered the removal of some accounts and content that, he said, had violated the law by undermining the integrity of the country’s elections. After the right-wing president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro lost re-election in 2022, his supporters stormed the country’s legislature on January 8, 2023, claiming that the election had been stolen (none), in an echo of the January 6, 2021, uprising in the US Capitol. Moraes is a strong opponent for Bolsonaro. X spent months disobeying the order, instead turning the sealed court order over to the US Congressional Subcommittee on Federal Government Weapons, chaired by right-wing congressman Jim Jordan, who then released publicly. Brazil feels that Musk’s actions, as well as the release of orders, are steps to undermine democracy and the country’s sovereignty. A Brazilian court eventually issued an order to block X in the country for non-compliance and issued a fine to Musk-owned Starlink, after X complied with the order. He also attacked Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, during that country’s elections (which many in the international community believe were rigged). communication at the University of Bremen. These groups include people in the tech industry, moderate conservatives, advocates of economic liberalism, and right-wing movements. “This group does not have many connections in the past, but is increasingly aligned with modern centre/left governments.” By expanding the diversity of voices, he said, Musk is actively bringing right-wing perspectives into the mainstream debate and opening up new groups of the population as voters for right-wing parties. boss. In April, Musk met with Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei. Milei’s administration has reduced spending in a way that Musk said in the X post “will be a useful model for the rest of the world.” Argentina’s poverty rate under Milei’s government has risen to more than 50 percent. And while Musk is certainly driven by a certain political ideology, Katzenbach noted that Musk’s involvement in European politics could benefit business interests, particularly by deregulation of social media in the bloc. or open new avenues for their companies. The EU is currently prosecuting X for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), which could result in fines. In Italy, Musk is exploring a deal with the right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni for a deal to start satellite communications through Starlink at a cost of $1.5 billion, which will compete with the European satellite initiative. mixed bag,” Katzenbach said. But either way, Musk seems determined to become a political force beyond national borders. David Gilbert contributed reporting.
