Elon Musk's social media activity cited in Belfast unrest ahead of SpaceX IPO

Elon Musk reposted statements from Restore Britain, a UK political party that advocates large-scale migrant deportations, following a knife attack in Belfast that left a Sudanese refugee suspected as the assailant. The repost included party leader Rupert Lowe’s call for “a vast number of people” to be forced out of the country and a pledge to prosecute officials he said had placed “dangerous third-world savages” in communities. Musk added, "This is the way," and shared a list of protest locations, urging repeated and loud demonstrations.

The incident sparked rioting in Belfast, with reports of arson, attacks on police and the use of water cannons. In response, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence and the role of online platforms in encouraging it. Ofcom’s group director for online safety, Oliver Griffiths, warned that platforms must remove illegal content under the Online Safety Act, citing racially motivated violence and arson linked to online incitement.

Musk also commented on other immigration-related topics on his X account, including calls for the execution of two Iraqi suspects in a German rape trial and a response to a post about “savages” with the remark, "Murderous migrants must go." He later defended his posts, stating that violent acts by migrants, not social media, were the cause of public anger.

SpaceX’s IPO filing notes that Musk’s statements frequently attract extensive media attention and are considered a risk factor for the offering.