Russia Offers Musk Asylum as Trump Feud Escalates, Heightening U.S.-Russia Tensions

Amid a spiraling public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the political drama took a startling international twist after Russian lawmakers openly offered Musk political asylum. While the suggestion appears largely symbolic, it highlights the widening cracks in the U.S. political climate and showcases how foreign powers are leveraging domestic controversies to score ideological points.

The offer emerged following Trump’s threats to revoke federal contracts from Musk-owned firms such as SpaceX and Tesla. The threats were retaliation for Musk’s criticism of Trump’s tax policies and broader political direction on his social media platform, X. The feud has sparked considerable political commentary globally, with Russia seizing the moment to mock U.S. governance and align itself, at least rhetorically, with the embattled billionaire technocrat.

Highlights:

• Russian officials offer Elon Musk political asylum amid U.S. political feud

• Trump had threatened to sever government contracts with Musk’s companies

• The move signals Russia’s attempt to exploit divisions within U.S. politics

• Elon Musk’s criticism of U.S. policies is drawing global geopolitical reactions

The asylum offer adds an unconventional layer of political theater to what was previously a corporate-government showdown in the U.S. tech space.

Russian Lawmaker Extends Mock Asylum Offer

Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s International Affairs Committee and a senior figure in the Communist Party, was the first to float the asylum idea. Speaking to state-run news agency TASS, Novikov suggested that Musk, while unlikely to need such a provision, could indeed be granted protection by Moscow if circumstances worsened.

“I think that Musk has a completely different game, that he will not need any political asylum, although, if he did, Russia, of course, could provide it,” said Novikov. He added that Musk has cultivated a distinct political posture over the years, one that reveals both strategic convictions and temporary tactical conflicts with U.S. power centers.

His remarks reflect Russia’s broader messaging strategy of portraying the U.S. as an increasingly unstable and hostile environment, especially for dissenting corporate voices. The Kremlin, while not formally endorsing Novikov’s comments, has allowed such statements to circulate in state media, further amplifying Russia’s critique of Western political institutions.

Highlights:

• Dmitry Novikov says Musk could be welcomed in Russia if asylum were needed

• Musk’s political stance seen as incompatible with future Democratic leadership

• Russia using U.S. domestic disputes to showcase supposed ideological superiority

The statements reveal a calculated effort to use Musk as a symbol of U.S. political breakdown while highlighting Russia’s “openness” to dissenters from the Western bloc.

Kremlin Spokesman Distances Officially, While State Figures Keep Mocking

Despite the noise from lawmakers, the Kremlin itself maintained a more cautious approach. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment directly on the Musk-Trump clash, framing it as an internal U.S. matter. “We’re confident the U.S. president will handle this situation on his own,” he said during a press briefing, signaling Moscow’s reluctance to escalate involvement beyond symbolic jabs.

However, Russian elites did not hold back. Former Roscosmos head and nationalist senator Dmitry Rogozin took to Musk’s platform, X, to offer a tongue-in-cheek invitation: “Elon, don’t be upset! If you encounter insurmountable problems in the U.S., come to us. Here you will find reliable comrades and complete freedom of technical creativity.”

Even former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev entered the fray, jokingly offering to mediate a peace deal between “D and E” (Donald and Elon) in exchange for shares in Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet venture. The commentary, though humorous in tone, reflects how deeply the Musk-Trump feud has penetrated international discourse and how Russia is leveraging it to frame the U.S. as politically fractured and technologically vulnerable.

Highlights:

• Kremlin spokesman Peskov distances the government from direct involvement

• Dmitry Rogozin offers “technical freedom” in Russia to Musk via X

• Medvedev mocks feud with peace proposal and request for Starlink equity

• Russia frames Musk’s woes as a metaphor for America’s political decay

This pattern of satirical commentary illustrates how Russia is turning a domestic U.S. feud into international propaganda fodder.

Musk as a Symbol of U.S. Dysfunction in Russian Media

Russian state media figures also piled onto the narrative. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and one of the most influential voices in Kremlin-aligned media, ridiculed the entire feud as a window into what she called “modern U.S. political culture.” Drawing a bleak comparison, she said the saga resembled the English Industrial Revolution, “only in reverse.”

The framing of Musk as a persecuted innovator resonates with Russia’s long-standing narrative of the U.S. as a decaying empire, turning on its own visionaries due to political infighting. By amplifying this message, Russian media hopes to enhance its appeal among tech communities and dissident circles who view centralized government power with skepticism.

Simonyan’s remarks are especially notable for their alignment with Russia’s recent positioning in the global information war, where the Kremlin increasingly aims to undercut the moral and political authority of the U.S. by highlighting internal contradictions and public disputes among its elites.

Highlights:

• Margarita Simonyan mocks U.S. political culture in light of the Musk feud

• Russian state media portrays Musk as a casualty of dysfunctional democracy

• The narrative aligns with broader anti-Western sentiment in Russian propaganda

• Musk’s conflict now functions as a case study in state-driven ideological warfare

By reimagining Musk as a dissident battling a corrupt system, Russia crafts a compelling anti-Western narrative for domestic and international audiences alike.

American Right-Wing Figures Intensify Pressure on Musk

The Russian reaction comes at a time when Musk is also facing growing criticism from the American far-right. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon labeled Musk “an illegal alien” and called for his deportation, while urging the U.S. government to seize SpaceX. The inflammatory rhetoric has only escalated the perception that Musk is under coordinated political attack from multiple directions.

These statements, while extreme, reflect a widening split within the conservative ecosystem. While some factions see Musk as a cultural ally who promotes free speech and questions establishment narratives, others, particularly those loyal to Trump, now view him as an ungrateful disruptor who has turned on their political hero.

Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur who became a U.S. citizen in 2002, has brushed off such comments. Still, the fact that former senior officials are publicly calling for action against him has heightened investor concerns and intensified scrutiny over Musk’s increasingly entangled role in politics and business.

Highlights:

• Steve Bannon calls Musk “an illegal alien,” urges deportation and asset seizure

• Far-right divisions emerge over Musk’s political criticism of Trump

• Musk’s citizenship status and political neutrality come under renewed fire

• Investor concerns rise as political risk around Musk escalates