Elon Musk's estranged dad Errol hails Russia as the ‘peak of civilisation' & gushes over Putin at staged Moscow event
TESLA tycoon Elon Musk's estranged dad Errol has hailed Russia as the "peak of civilisation" - and even gushed over mad Vladimir Putin.
Errol Musk, 79, made the explosive remarks in Moscow where he appeared at a Kremlin-backed event organised by the Russian dictator's inner circle.
8
8
8
It comes just days after his billionaire son's high-profile alliance with the US President imploded in a fierce online feud.
Musk Snr took part in the Tsargrad propaganda forum where he bizarrely declared Moscow the "best capital" in the world.
Marking his first time in Russia, Errol said: "I think the image that people give to us in the West of Russia is completely wrong.
"Russia is wonderful, it's absolutely amazing.
He added how it was "quite clear" that Moscow was better than any other city across the globe.
Not only did the South African businessman praise Russia however, but also its mad leader Putin and, in turn, challenged the West's portrayal of him and his country.
Errol said: "I think [Putin] is a very impressive man - he's proved that. A very stable, impressive man.
"As for the perception of Russia, it's very wrong."
He added: "So the perception in America by the media, I will call it the fake media, is that Russia is a bad place and its full of very bad people, and they're all going to kill you to come here, which is complete nonsense."
He explained how he was coming to Russia with his daughter Alexandra - but his sons told her that she musn't go "under any circumstances".
And after Errol himself claims to have been given warnings on going to Moscow, he said he "arrived here, and the first thing I saw was a perfect total civilisation in every direction."
He added: "I see a city that easily rivals ancient Rome.
"And probably, I made a comment to somebody earlier, it's by far not by a little but by far the premier capital city in the world."
Errol also discussed his estranged Tesla tycoon son Elon and his astronautics exploration company SpaceX - but credited Russia as originally being the "leader" of space engineering before his son "took over".
He said it "all started off with the Russian attempts" which he said were "quite amazing".
Just a day ago, speaking of the explosive feud between Elon and US President Trump, Musk Snr revealed that his son was grappling with regret and fatigue from his turbulent stint in Washington.
He said: 'So at the moment, Elon is inclined to say that he's made a mistake.'
'Trump will prevail. He's the president, he was elected as the president.
'Elon made a mistake, I think, but he's tired, he's stressed.
8
8
8
8
8
"They are all suffering from a bit of PTSD, a post-traumatic stress disorder over the last few months, they started hitting out at each other.
'And then in the end, it's just him and Trump left… They still don't know what to do, so they fight with each other until they can come to normal conditions.'
And in response to a question from a Russian propaganda publication on how to "raise a genius," Errol said that a child needed to be "spanked a lot".
Errol's ex-wife and Elon's mum Maye accused him of beating her during their marriage.
She also once revealed that Elon tried to stand up for her during one of the beatings as a child.
Errol has always denied being abusive to his ex-wife.
Errol will speak at the Future Forum 2050, organised by Malofeev and Putin ideologist and 'philosopher' Alexander Dugin.
Meanwhile, Russia appears eager to capitalize on Musk's estrangement from the US political elite.
Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev cheekily offered to mediate peace talks between 'D and E' — Trump and Elon— 'for a reasonable fee and to accept Starlink shares as payment.'
Another Kremlin loyalist, ex-space chief Dmitry Rogozin, publicly offered Musk asylum.
'You are respected in Russia. If you encounter insurmountable problems in the US, come to us and become one of us,' Rogozin wrote.
Russia would offer him 'reliable comrades and complete freedom of technical creativity'.
TRUMP FALLOUT
The world's richest man Musk — who reportedly donated $288 million to Trump's 2024 campaign and briefly served as a White House aide — has now turned on the president over his sweeping tax and spending bill.
Elon even claimed on X that Trump was tied to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, though the post was later deleted and the White House dismissed the allegation outright.
Their bromance is now beyond repair.
On Sunday, Trump confirmed to NBC that he has no interest in making amends: 'I would assume so, yeah,' he said when asked if their relationship was over. 'I have no intention of speaking to him.'
The former allies have been locked in an escalating war of words for days - throwing insults at each other in an explosive dispute.
What is Elon & Errol's relationship?
By Annabel Bate, Foreign News Reporter
ERROL Musk and his son Elon have a very turbulent relationship, characterised by estrangement.
Elon has describd his dad as a "terrible human being" and "evil" in the past.
Meanwhile Errol has called his Tesla tycoon son a "spoilt child".
Errol's ex-wife and Elon Musk's mum Maye accused him of beating her during their marriage.
She also once revealed that Elon tried to stand up for her during one of the beatings as a child.
Errol has always denied being abusive to his ex-wife.
After his parents divorced, Elon initially went to live with his mother in Canada.
But he was sent back to South Africa to live with Errol just a year later.
Errol said the split had a big impact on Elon's mental state at the time.
He was very unsure of himself," the 77-year-old said.
"Until he was 12 he slept with me in the main bedroom on my big double bed.
"He had his own room but I never told him to go to his room."
Although there were struggles, the Musks were never short on money during Elon's youth.
"It was a privileged world," said Errol, who was the part owner of an emerald mine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Argentina's Supreme Court upholds prison sentence for ex-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Federal agencies were reportedly tracking foreigners visiting with Musk afraid they were trying to influence the mogul
Federal agencies were tracking foreign nationals who visited Elon Musk over concerns that they could influence the tech billionaire, according to a report. Agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, were reportedly among the agencies surveilling foreigners who met with Musk at his U.S. properties in 2022 and 2023, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Officials at the FBI and others were briefed on the investigation, The Journal reports, which focused on overseas visitors from Eastern Europe and elsewhere 'who might have been trying to influence him.' The investigation, which predates the second Trump administration, did not result in any charges, the outlet reports. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment when approached by The Independent. The FBI and representatives for Musk did not immediately respond. Concern surrounded sensitive contracts Musk's five companies hold with the U.S. government and the 'unprecedented access' he has to top government officials, according to The Journal. Musk's own companies have been promised or awarded nearly $21 billion by the U.S. government since 2008, according to data analyzed by The Independent. The vast majority of the funding comes from federal contracts with SpaceX, the private space company Musk founded back in 2002. The company holds Defense Department contracts for satellite launches, including for the country's secretive National Reconnaissance Office. Reports surrounding Musk's foreign associates being tracked follow his dramatic exit from Washington, D.C., which saw his relationship with President Donald Trump implode last week. Musk helped re-elect the president by launching his super PAC last year. Eyebrows were raised by staffers within the America PAC over Musk's association with foreign nationals, according to The Journal. Sources familiar with the PAC's inner workings told the outlet that they brought in extensive vetting to 'keep foreigners out.' The Journal reported last October that Musk raising security concerns. Musk was said to have spoken to the Russian president on the phone about business and geopolitical matters, officials with knowledge of the alleged conversations told The Journal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed one telephone call took place between Musk and Putin where they discussed 'space as well as current and future technologies,' the outlet reported, but denied there had been regular conversations. When reached for comment from Musk at the time, a SpaceX spokesperson told The Independent the claims in the Journal were 'misleading' and 'unsubstantiated.'
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
Britain should stay close to US to ward off Russian threat, says defence chief
Britain should stay close to the US to stand up to the threat from Russia, the Chief of the Defence Staff has said. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin's comments came after Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, told The Telegraph that people in Britain had 'better learn to speak Russian' if the Government did not drastically increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Sir Tony, the head of the British military, appeared before the Commons defence select committee on Tuesday, where he was asked if he agreed with Mr Rutte's comments. He said such a scenario could be avoided by sticking close to America and strengthening Nato, telling MPs: 'We all accept that we are in this era of change. 'The piece that I think is so true and consistent for the UK is this security construct which is extraordinary and we should celebrate. 'We are a nuclear power. We are the world's largest and most powerful military alliance and we have as our principal ally the world's most powerful country on the planet. That's what keeps us safe. 'That's what we need to bind to, that's what we are doing, and that's what we need to strengthen so that we don't have the concerns that we are all going to be speaking Russian.' Sir Tony's remarks came as Rachel Reeves prepared to deliver her spending review, in which the Chancellor will set out the details of departmental spending, on Wednesday. However, Sir Tony, who steps down as CDS this autumn and will be replaced by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, refused to say whether he supported an uplift in defence spending to 3 per cent and beyond. Sir Tony also acknowledged the changing relationship between America and the UK, now that Donald Trump has asked the UK to shoulder more of the burden in Europe. Asked if the US withdrew, either entirely or partly, its contribution to Nato, would Europe be strong enough to 'match' Russia, Sir Tony said it was. However, he also insisted that 'America is sticking with Nato'. 'America is going to continue to provide all of us in Europe with the nuclear security guarantee,' he said, while cautioning that the US has other priorities, from homeland security to the Indo-Pacific. 'We no longer have that guarantee in terms of conventional American help for the security of Europe,' Sir Tony said. 'That is a significant change and that's why you are seeing Europe responding.'
