ultra-nationalist birds of a feather
In the long and troubled history of ideological entanglement between Western dissidents and authoritarian powers, a new chapter appears to be unfolding: Errol Musk, father of the world's most prominent tech billionaire, has acknowledged that his family's foundation funded a Moscow trip for British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, where Robinson met Russian business figures and returned home with fresh enthusiasm for street protest. The visit sits within a broader pattern of the Putin government cultivating relationships with far-right European figures as an instrument of hybrid warfare — not through tanks or missiles, but through the quieter erosion of democratic cohesion from within. That a private American philanthropic vehicle may have served as the financial conduit for such a journey raises questions that reach well beyond one man's politics or another man's admiration.
- Errol Musk has confirmed on the record that the Musk Foundation — established by Elon and Kimbal Musk — covered the costs of Tommy Robinson's luxury Moscow trip, placing a billionaire family's charitable infrastructure at the centre of a geopolitical controversy.
- Robinson used the visit not as a quiet diplomatic exchange but as a platform, posting videos from a Moscow hotel, praising Russian society, and urging anti-migration protests in Britain in the immediate aftermath of a knife attack in Belfast.
- The trip coincided with Andrew Tate and his brother filming themselves firing weapons alongside apparent Russian military personnel, underscoring that Robinson's visit was part of a coordinated pattern of Kremlin outreach to Western influencers.
- British police intercepted Robinson upon his return and seized his phones, signalling that domestic security services are treating the Moscow connection as a matter of active concern rather than mere political theatre.
- Experts in misinformation and hybrid warfare warn that Russia's recruitment of far-right activists — ideological fellow travellers united by ultra-nationalism — represents a deliberate strategy to fracture Western democracies from the inside, with or without the witting cooperation of those being cultivated.
Errol Musk, the South African businessman and father of Elon Musk, has told the Guardian that his family's private foundation paid for Tommy Robinson — the British far-right activist whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — to travel to Moscow last month. The two men met with Russian business figures during the visit, and Robinson posted footage of himself in a luxury hotel alongside the elder Musk. Errol Musk described Robinson as "a fine young man" who is "learning," despite the activist's multiple criminal convictions, most notably for contempt of court.
The trip had immediate political consequences at home. While still in Russia, Robinson used the platform to encourage anti-migration protests in Britain following a knife attack in Belfast, and he shared footage of Russian ultra-nationalists at a rally honouring a murdered British teenager. Upon returning, he told the Guardian he had come to appreciate "the beauty of a civilised society" — a striking endorsement from a man whose phones were promptly seized by British police at the border.
Robinson's visit was not an isolated event. At the same time, Andrew Tate and his brother were in Russia filming themselves with apparent military personnel, part of what experts describe as a deliberate Kremlin strategy of cultivating far-right Western figures. Errol Musk himself has traveled to Russia repeatedly, once meeting Vladimir Putin, and holds strongly pro-Russian views on the Ukraine conflict — including the belief that Russia possesses a "genetic advantage" over the West.
Professor Stephan Lewandowsky of the University of Bristol, who studies misinformation, characterised the pattern plainly: Putin's regime will "recruit anyone to undermine western democracy from within." The alignment, he said, is both pragmatic and ideological — "ultra-nationalist birds of a feather" finding common cause across borders. The Guardian has previously reported similar outreach to other British far-right figures through Kremlin-linked networks, suggesting that what happened in Moscow last month is less an anomaly than a strategy.
Errol Musk, the father of billionaire X owner Elon Musk, says his family's private foundation paid for a trip to Moscow by Tommy Robinson, the British far-right activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The older Musk brought Robinson to Russia last month, where the activist used his time to encourage anti-migration protests back home in Britain, particularly after a knife attack in Belfast. Robinson posted video of himself in a luxury Moscow hotel alongside Errol Musk, who confirmed to the Guardian that both men held meetings with Russian business figures during the visit.
The Musk Foundation, established by Elon and his brother Kimbal, covered the costs of the trip, according to Errol Musk. He described Robinson as "a fine young man," acknowledging that while the activist is "very hotheaded," he is "learning." The South African businessman, who has traveled to Russia repeatedly and once met Vladimir Putin, holds strongly pro-Russian views on the Ukraine conflict and believes Russia possesses a "genetic advantage" over the West. During the Moscow visit, Robinson attended meetings focused on Russia's efforts to reverse declining birth rates—a topic Errol Musk said Robinson engaged with seriously.
The timing of Robinson's Moscow appearance coincided with a broader pattern of the Putin regime cultivating relationships with far-right European figures. While Robinson was in Russia, the country was also hosting Andrew Tate, the self-styled misogynistic influencer, and his brother, who released footage of themselves firing weapons and riding in a tank apparently in the company of Russian military personnel. Robinson's visit marked a shift in his public stance toward Russia; though he had traveled there years earlier, this time he was more explicit in his admiration, sharing footage of Russian ultra-nationalists at a rally commemorating murdered British teenager Henry Nowak.
Upon returning from Russia, British police stopped Robinson and seized his phones. In an interview with the Guardian, Robinson himself claimed he had come to appreciate "the beauty of a civilised society" after his time in Moscow. Errol Musk said he had become acquainted with Robinson after the activist's imprisonment—Robinson has multiple convictions, most notably for breaching a contempt of court order. When asked on British television about Robinson, Errol Musk said he reached out to him.
Experts view the cultivation of Western far-right activists as part of Russia's hybrid warfare strategy against democratic nations. Stephan Lewandowsky, a professor at the University of Bristol who studies misinformation threats, said Putin's regime will "recruit anyone to undermine western democracy from within," whether Robinson, the Tates, or figures in conventional politics. He noted that Russia's interest is both pragmatic—gaining political advantage—and ideological, describing the alignment as "ultra-nationalist birds of a feather." The Guardian previously reported that Mark Collett, a longstanding far-right activist and founder of Patriotic Alternative, spoke at a summit of European extreme nationalist groups convened in St. Petersburg by an oligarch with ties to Putin. That group had attempted to exploit civil unrest outside British asylum hotels.
Citações Notáveis
He's very hotheaded, but at the same time, he's learning— Errol Musk, describing Tommy Robinson
Part of that means he will recruit anyone to undermine western democracy from within, whether that is Robinson, the Tates or others involved in more conventional politics— Prof Stephan Lewandowsky, University of Bristol
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why would Elon Musk's family foundation fund a trip like this? What's the connection between Musk and Robinson?
Elon has been publicly supportive of Robinson for years. The foundation is private, so there's no requirement to disclose funding. But Errol Musk's willingness to speak about it to the Guardian suggests they don't see it as something to hide—they see Robinson as a legitimate figure worth supporting.
And Errol Musk himself went to Russia. Was he there for the same reasons?
He was there partly for an economic forum backed by the Kremlin, but he also brought Robinson along and facilitated meetings with Russian business figures. So it wasn't incidental—it was orchestrated.
What was Robinson actually doing in Moscow? Just sightseeing?
He was using the platform to encourage people back in Britain to protest against immigration, particularly after the Belfast knife attack. He was also praising Russia publicly, sharing videos of ultra-nationalist rallies. It was activism, not tourism.
Is there evidence this was part of a larger Russian strategy?
Yes. Russia was hosting other Western figures like Andrew Tate at the same time. Experts see it as part of hybrid warfare—Putin's regime deliberately cultivating relationships with far-right activists who can undermine democracy from within their own countries.
So Russia benefits from Robinson's activism in Britain?
Exactly. Every time Robinson stokes division over immigration or praises Russia, he's doing work that serves Russian interests. It costs Russia almost nothing but creates real social friction in the West.
What happens now?
Robinson returned to Britain with his phones seized by police. The question is whether authorities will investigate the funding and the coordination, or whether it will be treated as a curiosity about Elon Musk's family.