Across Europe, far-right politicians, activists, and influencers have discovered a powerful tool to grow their reach and impact: engaging with Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter).
In Germany, a politician from a party labeled extremist by national intelligence saw her audience grow from 230,000 to over 2 million on days Musk responded to her posts—just before her party achieved its strongest electoral result ever. In the UK, a far-right anti-immigration activist, previously banned from Twitter and jailed for contempt of court, regained access under Musk and gained nearly a million followers by repeatedly interacting with the billionaire online.
Even a relatively unknown influencer from Cyprus, whose biggest aspiration was once to hug Musk, found political success after that moment went viral. After repeated online engagement with Musk, his audience jumped from 300,000 to nearly 10 million views. He went on to win a surprise seat in the European Parliament and has since praised Musk and defended X in EU debates.
While Musk has distanced himself from Washington politics and stepped away from advising Donald Trump, his influence on X remains potent and largely unchallenged. The Associated Press conducted a data-driven analysis of Musk’s interactions with 11 far-right figures in Europe, examining over 20,000 posts and interactions since Musk acquired X for $44 billion. The data reveals how Musk’s engagement—whether replying, reposting, or tagging—can dramatically expand the reach and impact of hard-right voices across the continent.
Although X’s algorithm is not transparent, AP's research shows that Musk’s attention can skyrocket view counts and follower numbers. On average, accounts he interacts with receive two to four times more views, with some getting boosts of up to 30 or 40 times their usual visibility. Most of the 11 examined figures saw triple-digit percentage growth in followers.
Some of these individuals have faced legal issues in their home countries. One UK activist was imprisoned for defying a court order not to spread defamatory claims about a Syrian refugee. A German politician used a Nazi slogan in a speech, and Italy’s vice premier was tried (and later acquitted) for unlawfully detaining migrants on a rescue ship.
Others, like German climate skeptic Naomi Seibt and Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, used X to cultivate loyal audiences, monetize content, and draw attention from Musk. Seibt, for example, messaged Musk nearly 600 times before he engaged, after which her follower count surged by over 320,000. She now resides in Washington, D.C., citing fear of political persecution in Germany.
Musk’s support hasn’t been limited to online amplification. His endorsements—such as his support for Matteo Salvini in Italy or Nigel Farage in the UK—often come with measurable spikes in visibility and social media reach. In Spain, columnist Rubén Pulido saw his viewership triple when Musk responded to his anti-migration posts. Without Musk’s attention, his reach dwindled.
While Musk’s amplification has helped fringe and emerging voices gain traction, established far-right leaders like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Dutch politician Geert Wilders saw less dramatic benefits from his attention, possibly due to their already high public profiles.
The economic implications are also notable. With X now offering monetization features, many of these figures earn money directly from their online presence. For example, Tommy Robinson, a UK anti-immigration activist, more than doubled his average daily views with Musk’s help and linked his X account to fundraising pages. Accounts like Radio Genoa, accused of spreading hate speech, also used Musk’s platform to gain followers and solicit donations.
AP’s analysis points to a broader concern: Musk’s ability to amplify narratives and political ideologies that align with his worldview, potentially influencing democratic processes across Europe. EU regulators have taken notice. Investigations are ongoing into X’s algorithm, its role in spreading biased content, and whether Musk's influence poses a threat to electoral integrity.
Experts say Musk's power on the platform—whose popularity he has pushed to new highs—creates a major imbalance. With over 220 million followers, he now commands more reach than any other user, including Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, or world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While Musk’s defenders frame this as free speech in action, critics argue X has become a vehicle for advancing Musk’s own views. “There’s a clear sense that you’re entering Musk’s kingdom when you log on,” said Timothy Graham, a digital media researcher in Australia.
Musk’s online support also often turns into offline political momentum. For example, Cypriot influencer-turned-lawmaker Fidias Panayiotou credited Musk’s engagement for his skyrocketing reach and electoral success. Although he later stated they had no personal relationship since their viral hug, Musk endorsed him to over 11 million viewers, praising his character and energy.
Despite criticism from European leaders—including the heads of France, Germany, and Norway—Musk continues to amplify voices aligned with nationalist, anti-migrant, and far-right views, reshaping political conversations both online and off.