Elon Musk Was Friends With His 'Black Servants' Growing Up, Father Says

Elon Musk was friends with "Black servants" while growing up, his father told The Washington Post.

Newsweek reached out to Musk for comment via Tesla's press email.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump tapped Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at cutting unnecessary government spending, but has drawn criticism over the firing of federal workers and cuts to some programs.

Musk's views about a number of political issues including race have come under scrutiny amid his foray into politics. As a high profile member of the Trump administration, he may yield significant influence on the policies passed by the president.

What to Know

Elon's father, Errol Musk, told The Washington Post Musk was friends with "Black servants" who worked for his family in an article published on Thursday that discusses Elon's views on racial issues.

The article overviewed how Elon's views on political racial issues have changed overtime, including from early on in his childhood in Apartheid South Africa during the 1970s. Elon, once viewed as a moderate Democrat, over the past few years has become increasingly conservative and popular within the Republican Party.

"They were not into political nonsense, and we lived in a very well-run, law-abiding country with virtually no crime at all. Actually no crime. We had several black servants who were their friends," Errol wrote in an email to the Post in reference to Elon and his younger brother.

He also told the publication that Elon and his brothers had Black friends and once attended an anti-apartheid concert to show his disapproval toward the political and social system based on racial segregation.

In the Trump administration, he has advocated for the end of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. Musk also called systemic racism against White people in the United States "concerning" in a post on X.

He has also sparred with the South African government over its handling of race issues, earlier in March accusing its leaders of racism over a law that prohibits Star Link of operating in the country that he believed amounted to anti-white racism.

What People Are Saying

Rudolph Pienaar, who went to school with Musk at Pretoria Boys High School, told The Post: "We grew up in a bubble of entitlement. I am not sure if Elon can conceive of systematic discrimination and struggle because that's not his experience. His life now in some ways is how it was under apartheid — rich and entitled with the entire society built to sustain him and his ilk."

Elon Musk, in a companywide email in 2017 after a racial discrimination lawsuit was filed: "[Minorities] have endured difficulties that someone born or raised in a more privileged situation did not. Don't ever intentionally allow someone to feel excluded, uncomfortable or unfairly treated."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a comment to The Washington Post: "This story is literally just combing together random things from the internet to paint Elon Musk as a racist. Get a life."

What Happens Next

Despite facing increasing pressure from Tesla investors to step away from his political work, Musk has not signaled any indication he plans to do so. DOGE is likely to continue its work over the coming weeks and months.