Errol Musk, father of billionaire X owner Elon Musk, has revealed that his family’s philanthropic foundation funded a trip for British far-right activist Tommy Robinson to Russia. During the visit to Moscow, Errol Musk accompanied Robinson, who issued calls from the Russian capital for supporters to take to the streets in Britain following a knife attack in Belfast.
Errol Musk confirmed to the Guardian, “I brought him out to Russia,” adding that the journey was covered by the Musk Foundation. This private philanthropic organisation was founded by Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shared a video of himself in a luxury Moscow hotel alongside the elder Musk, whose son, Elon, has been a vocal supporter of the activist.
Both Errol Musk and Robinson held meetings with Russian business figures, discussing topics that included Russia’s efforts to address a decline in birth rates. Errol Musk noted that “Tommy really got into these meetings.”
This visit aligns with a broader trend of Vladimir Putin’s regime and its proxies appearing to forge links with European far-right figures. Concurrently, Russia also hosted Andrew Tate, the self-styled misogynistic influencer, and his brother, who posted footage of themselves firing weapons and riding in a tank, seemingly in the company of the Russian military.
Upon his return from Russia, Robinson’s phones were stopped and seized by police in Britain. While Robinson had previously visited Russia several years ago, his recent trip saw him express more explicit praise for the country, sharing footage of Russian ultra-nationalists at a rally commemorating the murdered British teenager Henry Nowak. Last month, Robinson himself told the Guardian that he had come to appreciate the “beauty of a civilised society” after his time in Russia.
Errol Musk, who also attended an annual Kremlin-backed economic forum in St Petersburg, described Robinson as “a fine young man.” The South African, who has previously travelled to Russia and met Putin, added, “He’s very hotheaded, but at the same time, he’s learning.” A self-proclaimed Russophile, Errol Musk believes Russia possesses a “genetic advantage” over the West and holds firm pro-Russian positions regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Musk senior explained that he became familiar with Robinson after the activist’s imprisonment for breaching a contempt of court order. He recounted, “So I contacted Tommy, I was asked on British television once what I think of Tommy.”
Prof Stephan Lewandowsky, a University of Bristol expert on misinformation, commented on the visits by figures like Robinson and Tate. He framed them against the backdrop of a “hybrid war” waged by Putin against the West. Lewandowsky stated, “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.” He added that there is a “pragmatic reason for the Russians to be making links like this” for political advantage, alongside “clearly examples of ideological alignment to the extent that we are talking about ultra-nationalist birds of a feather.”
Earlier this year, the Guardian reported that Mark Collett, a longstanding far-right activist and founder of Patriotic Alternative, spoke at a summit of European extreme nationalist groups in Russia. This event in St Petersburg was convened by an influential oligarch linked to Putin, and Patriotic Alternative had previously attempted to exploit summer unrest outside asylum hotels in Britain.
