Overview

• Errol Musk, Elon Musk's father, defended his son by citing friendships with 'Black servants' during their time in apartheid South Africa, calling the country 'well-run' despite its segregationist regime.
• Critics, including a former schoolmate, argue Musk's privileged upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa limits his understanding of systemic racial oppression.
• Musk has faced backlash for opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and for claiming systemic racism against White people in the U.S. is 'concerning.'
• As the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration, Musk has been criticized for controversial cuts to federal programs and his influence on policy decisions.
• Musk's public dispute with the South African government over business regulations, which he labeled as anti-White racism, has further highlighted tensions surrounding his views on race.