Musk's meteoric rise as the world's richest person has brought unprecedented attention to his ventures, but an analysis of his recent X activity reveals a striking disparity between his focus on UK politics and his own business. A Guardian review of Elon Musk's posts between May 31 and June 12, a period that coincided with SpaceX's highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO), reveals a remarkable preoccupation with British issues of race and immigration.
Over the course of two weeks, Musk engaged in discussions related to UK politics on X an astonishing 303 times. A significant proportion of these posts – nearly three-quarters – addressed specific domestic concerns, as opposed to broader international topics or company announcements. In stark contrast, his social media activity concerning SpaceX, which was preparing for its Nasdaq listing during this time, accounted for just 114 posts, including replies and reposts.
As the UK grappled with heightened tensions, Musk's X feed featured numerous posts on British narratives, such as claims of 'anti-white' policing in the wake of Vickrum Digwa's sentencing, and violent riots in Belfast. The timing of his engagement is notable, given that the UK government was calling for calm during a period of increased domestic unrest.
The juxtaposition between Musk's public offering and his preoccupation with UK issues raises questions about priorities and focus. As SpaceX aimed to raise $75 billion (approximately £56 billion) through its IPO, securing an impressive $85.7 billion in the process, it is striking that Musk opted not to leverage his influence to promote the listing on X.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed concerns about foreign-based social media figures influencing UK discourse, stating that Musk's interventions have been 'interfering in our politics' and 'whipping up division.' This sentiment echoes a growing unease among some British politicians regarding the impact of external influencers on domestic debate.