Elon Musk Reacts to Criticism in The Economist Interview

During a interview with The Economist editor‑in‑chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, Elon Musk was asked whether he understood why many people “loathe” him. Musk acknowledged the sentiment, said he did not care, and pointed to his roughly 241 million followers on X as evidence of broader support.

He then turned the question back on the journalist, claiming the media is widely despised, and referenced his mixed‑race children with partner Shivon Zilis as proof he is not racist. The exchange was described by observers as a “crash out” after the probing question about his reputation.