Elon Musk boosting influencer who platforms far-right Putin allies

Summary

Elon Musk is under fire for promoting Mario Nawfal, a Dubai-based influencer who has interviewed Serbian, Belarusian, and Slovakian leaders, as well as Russia’s foreign minister—figures closely aligned with Vladimir Putin.

Musk reposted Nawfal 28 times in two weeks, despite Nawfal spreading misinformation and echoing Kremlin propaganda in uncritical interviews.

Experts say Nawfal’s access allows Russian-aligned regimes to recirculate state narratives through Western-facing platforms.

Essentially, Musk and Nawfal are enabling a global far-right propaganda network that strengthens ideological ties between authoritarian regimes and U.S. right-wing audiences.