In a video shared on social media, Humza Yousaf highlighted a pattern being seen globally of ‘powerful individuals with massive platforms amplifying harmful rhetoric’ [Getty]
The former First Minister of Scotland has slammed Elon Musk’s recent activities, from supporting far-right figures and getting involved in UK politics to the selective highlighting of cases involving Muslims and people of colour.
In a video shared on social media, Humza Yousaf said the owner of the X social media platform “needs to be stopped”, highlighting a pattern being seen globally of “powerful individuals with massive platforms are amplifying harmful rhetoric”.
“They’re normalising prejudice, and all to create division through the spread of disinformation,” Yousaf said.
The Scottish politician added that Musk was using his “vast billions to muscle his way into the White House” and is now attempting to “subvert democracy by trying to overthrow the democratically elected prime minister of the UK”.
Musk reportedly spent over $100 million to aid Donald Trump’s campaign, and following his election, Trump named Musk the head of a new government efficiency agency tasked with cutting federal waste.
He has also attacked the UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, over the latter’s handling of a child rape scandal which happened in northern England several years ago.
Keir Starmer has hit back at Musk, accusing the right-wing billionaire of spreading lies and misinformation.
In addition, Musk called for Nigel Farage to step down as leader of the Reform Party and championed the release of jailed far-right Islamophobe Tommy Robinson.
Yousaf said Musk is motivated by “his far-right sympathies, driven by anti-Muslim hatred that seems the driving force for the world’s wealthiest man,” highlighting his support for Robinson, Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders and Germany’s anti-immigrant AfD party, all known for their anti-Muslim stances.
“History has taught us the catastrophic consequences of allowing hatred against a community to go unchecked,” Yousaf said.
“Ignoring Musk and the far right is not an option. We need to take them on and we must confront the divisive rhetoric.”
The former Scottish leader also accused Musk of highlighting cases “that involve only people of colour or Muslims” after posting a tweet about the killing of Kriss Donald in Glasgow by a gang of Scottish Asian youths.
The world’s richest man took to X and referenced the murder writing: “First time I’ve heard of this”
Speaking to the BBC, Yousaf said Musk’s motivation for highlighting such cases was to “propagate far right-conspiracy”.
Following the 2024 Southport far-right riots, where a series of Islamophobia-fuelled riots broke out in the UK, Musk attacked Yousaf, calling him “super, super racist” and claiming he “loathes white people” after the latter called out Musk for spreading disinformation.
