New York Times columnist Jamal Bouie criticized Elon Musk for being one of the leading global proponents of far-right and white nationalist rhetoric. Bouie argued that the billionaire businessman is no longer just a tech entrepreneur, but is using his X platform to spread these ideologies.
According to Bouie, Musk's recent posts align with the ideas in 'The Turner Diaries,' a novel published in the 1970s and considered a founding text of white nationalist thought. The novel is about a race war against minorities and Jews, followed by the establishment of a pure white state.
The 'Traitors' and 'Invaders' Rhetoric
Bouie noted that Musk shared statements on X such as 'Traitors come before invaders' and 'Deal with the traitors before the invaders.' The writer added that those labeled as 'traitors' are politicians and citizens who oppose strict immigration policies.
Bouie linked this rhetoric to the 'remigration' concept embraced by far-right parties in Europe, describing it as a form of ethnic cleansing. The 'remigration' concept advocates the return of non-white populations to their countries of origin, even if they are citizens of the country where they were born.
Connection to the 'Great Replacement' Theory
The article also touched on Musk's warnings about low birth rates in Europe and the US. Bouie wrote that these statements align with the far-right 'great replacement' theory, which claims that the white population is being demographically displaced through immigration.
Bouie also drew attention to Musk's role in downsizing the programs of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). According to some estimates, these cuts have led to increased death rates in poor countries; however, Musk denies responsibility on this matter.
Apartheid Connection and Musk's Defense
The writer, citing the views of authors such as Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff, suggested that Musk's ideas are linked to his past in apartheid-era South Africa. According to these writers, Musk's intellectual project is built on defending 'white fertility' and combating what he calls the 'woke virus' that opens Western societies to immigrants.
Bouie noted that Musk, in an interview with The Economist magazine, said he is not racist but warned that if immigration continues, a 'reckoning moment' will come as the number of immigrants who do not embrace Western values increases.
Ideas Are Openly on His Platform
Bouie emphasized that the real problem is not that Musk hides his ideas, but that these views are openly present on his platform, watched by hundreds of millions. He questioned why politicians and the media treat Musk's rhetoric as a mere side discussion rather than addressing it as the core of his political and intellectual project.
The writer drew attention to the fact that these ideas intersect with the rhetoric that has inspired some of the bloodiest attacks in the US.
