As anti-immigrant violence escalates in Britain, Elon Musk's online posts and SpaceX's record-breaking IPO fueled a heated debate in the same week. The report highlighted that Musk prominently featured numerous extremist and violent calls to action on the X platform, coinciding with his net worth reaching one trillion dollars for the first time in history.
According to allegations, a wave of anger that began after a stabbing incident in Belfast, Northern Ireland last week quickly spread to other cities. The report stated that a 30-year-old Sudanese immigrant severely injured Stephen Oglivie, who is receiving hospital treatment and has lost his left eye. It also mentioned that a local politician involved in the incident was reported to be "showing signs of recovery."
The same report noted that footage of Henry Nowak, who was killed in a separate incident, further fueled outrage, leading to vehicles and buildings being set on fire in North Belfast. The violence later subsided, but anti-immigrant unrest spread to other parts of the United Kingdom.
Online Backlash Against Musk Intensifies
The report conveyed that researchers from the Center for Combating Digital Hate viewed Musk as one of the most influential figures in this turmoil. It was alleged that throughout the week, Musk openly supported over a hundred extremist reactions and calls for violence on X, increasing the visibility of hate speech.
These posts coincided with the Friday debut of SpaceX and Musk's AI company on the stock market. The IPO was described as the largest in history, making Musk the world's first trillionaire on paper, which intensified the criticism at this point.
The report recalled that Musk has faced criticism in the past for supporting antisemitic slogans and movements, developing a chatbot producing white supremacist rhetoric, and creating products linked to artificially generated sexual content. Nevertheless, it argued that the most visible pressure forcing him to be accountable comes more from ordinary people than politicians.
Solidarity and Counter-Protests in Belfast
In Belfast, some neighborhoods mobilized to protect their immigrant neighbors, raising funds to prevent damage to homes and businesses, and organizing anti-racism demonstrations. The report emphasized that thousands of city residents participated in these counter-protests, highlighting local solidarity.
The impact of the events extended to other European cities. In Geneva, tens of thousands protested the G7 summit, during which a parked Tesla was set on fire.
Symbolic Anti-Musk Actions in New York
Protests in the US were described as largely symbolic but still drew attention. A roughly 12-meter-tall inflatable balloon depicting a topless Musk was displayed in front of the Nasdaq building, surrounded by banners referencing Grok and allegations of AI-generated sexual content.
The organizers did not reveal their identities, but the images quickly spread on X, and Musk dismissed the protest slogans as "completely wrong." The report suggested this response was seen as effective enough to potentially deter Musk from his online racist posts.
Debate Over Pension Funds and the IPO
The Stop Funding Billionaires group, gathered in front of JPMorgan Chase in New York on Friday, claimed that SpaceX's IPO also affected pension funds. The report alleged that many Americans' 401(k) and similar retirement savings were being directed into SpaceX shares through large index funds.
Group representative Jonathan Westin stated that retirement savings should be protected over decades, yet markets are channeling money into companies that may not yet be profitable. Westin expressed that employees are being forced to bear significant risks.
Economist Mike Madowitz from the Roosevelt Institute made a similar critique, stating in a written statement that the SpaceX IPO automatically transferred insider shares to 401(k) holders via index funds, offering investors no real choice.
Long-Lasting Backlash's Impact on Musk
The report highlighted that recent dissatisfaction with Elon Musk stems from his transformation into an unelected power and increasing influence over public institutions. It noted that protests against Tesla in 2025 reduced sales and revenues, and similar pressure is now resurfacing around SpaceX.
It was reported that a mural and statue targeting Musk near SpaceX's headquarters in Texas were vandalized, and protests against the IPO took place around the facility in April. Additionally, some organizations called for the removal of X and Grok from the App Store during Apple's latest developer event due to Grok's association with child abuse content.
The report concluded by arguing that despite the combination of vast wealth and corporate power, street-level backlash can influence Musk's operations. However, it also emphasized how difficult it is to change the course of a giant company like SpaceX through protests alone.
