Tech billionaire Elon Musk dialed into a political congress in Florence this weekend, delivering a speech that was less about technology or innovation and more about apocalyptic warnings and sweeping generalizations.
Speaking via video at the Lega Party Congress held at the Fortezza da Basso, Musk touched on topics ranging from immigration to war to freedom of speech — offering a worldview that critics describe as alarmist, ideologically charged, and light on nuance.
Free Speech or Free-for-All?
In his opening salvo, Musk equated online content moderation with totalitarianism, claiming that those who advocate for limits on speech are “a Mussolini, a Stalin, a Hitler.”
“Restrictions on speech are fascist in nature,” he said, while defending his controversial social media platform, X, formerly Twitter.
Observers noted the irony of Musk decrying censorship on a platform that has itself struggled to contain disinformation, hate speech, and harassment under his leadership. Transparency, Musk claimed, is a hallmark of his companies — a statement many critics consider questionable given his history of opaque decision-making and erratic behavior online.
On Ukraine: No Strategy, Just Blame
Musk harshly criticized Western policy on the war in Ukraine, accusing governments of sending people to die “with no plan.”
“It’s cruel. It’s inhumane,” he said. “The left says we can’t give in to Russia, but they offer no alternative.”
What he failed to mention, however, is that Russia remains the aggressor, and that Ukraine’s defense is supported by a broad coalition of democratic nations. Musk’s comments align closely with isolationist rhetoric from figures like Donald Trump, with whom he has increasingly aligned himself.
Migration: A Threat to National Identity?
Musk’s most incendiary remarks were reserved for immigration. He warned that mass migration would “destroy” countries, saying that even a small inflow from poorer nations could permanently alter a nation’s identity.
“If you change the people, you change the country,” he said, reducing complex socio-economic phenomena to crude demographic determinism.
Such rhetoric has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups and immigration scholars, who argue that it echoes far-right talking points and dehumanizes people fleeing war, poverty, and climate disaster.
Fearmongering on Terrorism
In perhaps his most extreme claim, Musk warned of impending “mass killings” in Europe, allegedly resulting from unchecked immigration.
“Your friends, your families — they will all be at risk,” he declared, without citing evidence or acknowledging the actual trends in terrorism, which have declined across much of Europe in recent years.
A Tech Mogul or a Political Influencer?
While Musk has long styled himself as a free-thinking entrepreneur, his increasing forays into politics, nationalism, and culture wars have blurred the lines between tech innovation and ideological crusading. His Florence appearance — at a hard-right party’s congress — only cements that shift.
Critics warn that when one of the world’s richest and most powerful individuals uses global platforms to spread fear, distort complex issues, and court political favor, the consequences are anything but hypothetical.