Elon Musk’s political leanings have taken a sharp turn towards the far-right since his departure from the White House, with the Tesla CEO now openly backing controversial figures like Tommy Robinson. Robinson, a far-right activist, thanked Musk for funding his legal defence after being cleared of a terrorism charge this week. “Elon Musk, I’m forever grateful. If you didn’t step in and fund my legal fight I’d probably be in jail,” Robinson said.
Despite initially signalling he was done with politics after leaving the Trump administration, Musk has instead deepened his involvement. He has used his social media platform X to influence elections, promoted conspiracy theories about voter fraud, and made inflammatory statements, including claims that the UK would face civil war and that “it should be okay to have white pride”. His rhetoric has also included attacks on the media and accusations of a “homeless industrial complex” in California.
The political shift has hurt Tesla’s brand. A Yale study found that Musk’s divisive comments cost the company around a million vehicle sales between 2022 and April 2025. Consumer polling showed a sharp decline in brand loyalty, particularly as Musk’s “department of government efficiency” cut foreign aid, which experts say could lead to 14 million deaths globally. Musk’s personal approval ratings have also sunk, with a Gallup poll in August ranking him the least favourable among 14 major political figures.
Despite the backlash, Musk has shown no signs of retreat. He has continued to engage with far-right figures, including addressing a rally for Germany’s Alternative for Germany party and praising Robinson. In a post on X, Musk wrote: “It is time for the English to ally with the hard men, like Tommy Robinson, and fight for their survival.” Meanwhile, Tesla shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of a $1 trillion compensation package for Musk, insulating him from financial consequences.
