Elon Musk has reiterated his support for immigration while rejecting allegations of racism, saying his own background as an immigrant shapes his views on who should be welcomed into the United States.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Economist published on Thursday, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he supports immigration as long as those arriving in the U.S. contribute positively to society.
“I’m in favor of immigration. I’d be hypocritical if I wasn’t since I’m an immigrant to the United States. I’m in favor of immigration if the person immigrating is going to be a productive member of society, if they’re going to be honest, and if they’re not going to mistreat people in that country.”
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Musk, who was born in South Africa and later became a US citizen, said his position on immigration is rooted in his own experience as an immigrant.
During the interview, Musk also pushed back against accusations that he is racist, stating, “I’m not racist.”
To support his point, he referenced his personal life, including his relationship with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.
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“My partner is half Indian, and I have four children with her,” Musk said, adding that one of their sons was named after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Musk argued that these facts are inconsistent with claims that he holds racist views. He also pointed to the leadership teams at his companies, saying they include executives from diverse backgrounds and insisting there is “no racism” within his organizations.
The remarks come as Musk continues to face scrutiny over his public statements and political views, particularly on issues related to immigration, diversity, and race.