Russia Offers Political Asylum to Elon Musk Amid Feud with Trump

By WPS News, Staff Reporter
June 9, 2025

MOSCOW – In an unexpected twist to the escalating public feud between tech billionaire Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump, a senior Russian lawmaker has extended an offer of political asylum to Musk, highlighting the growing rift between the two former allies. The offer, described by some as a provocative gesture, comes as tensions between Musk and Trump have rattled financial markets and sparked global attention.

Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, told Russian state news outlet TASS that Russia could provide Musk with political asylum if needed. “I think that Musk has a completely different game, [so] he will not need any political asylum, although if he did, Russia, of course, could provide it,” Novikov said (King & Croucher, 2025). The statement follows a week of heated exchanges between Musk and Trump, centered on disagreements over Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a legislative package that includes tax cuts and increased spending on priorities like border security.

The feud, which erupted on June 5, 2025, marks a dramatic fallout between Musk and Trump, who had been close allies during the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Musk, who donated $300 million to Trump’s campaign, resigned last week as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial federal agency tasked with slashing government spending (The Moscow Times, 2025). Musk’s resignation came amid his vocal criticism of Trump’s spending bill, which he labeled a “disgusting abomination” for its potential to deepen the U.S. national debt (The Standard, 2025).

Trump retaliated, accusing Musk of opposing the bill due to the removal of electric vehicle subsidies that benefit Musk’s company, Tesla. Speaking at a news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 5, Trump expressed disappointment, stating, “Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here. All of a sudden he had a problem” (King & Croucher, 2025). The president later threatened to review Musk’s government contracts, including those with SpaceX, which supports critical operations like the International Space Station (CNN Politics, 2025).

The public spat intensified on social media, with Musk accusing Trump of withholding Jeffrey Epstein-related files and even suggesting impeachment proceedings against the president (The Moscow Times, 2025). Trump dismissed Musk’s claims, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem” (CNN Politics, 2025). The feud has already had economic repercussions, with Tesla shares plunging and Musk threatening to halt a key U.S. space program, sending shockwaves through financial markets (The Standard, 2025).

Russian officials have seized on the controversy, with some mocking the dispute and others offering pointed commentary. Dmitry Rogozin, a nationalist senator and former head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, invited Musk to join Russia’s war effort, writing on X, “Elon, don’t be upset! If you encounter insurmountable problems in the US, come to us and become one of us — a ‘Bars-Sarmat’ fighter” (The Washington Post, 2025). Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian security official and former president, jokingly offered to mediate peace between Musk and Trump in exchange for Starlink shares (India Today, 2025).

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, distanced Moscow from the dispute, calling it a “domestic issue of the United States” and stating, “We don’t intend to interfere” (The Standard, 2025). Despite the Kremlin’s official stance, Russia’s offer of asylum recalls its history of granting refuge to high-profile figures like NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and pro-Kremlin blogger Graham Phillips (The Moscow Times, 2025).

The Musk-Trump feud has exposed deeper tensions within U.S. political and economic spheres, with some comparing it to Russia’s own history of conflicts between political leaders and powerful business figures (The Washington Post, 2025). Social media platforms, particularly X, have been flooded with memes and commentary, some likening Musk to Russian oligarchs who faced dire consequences after falling out with the Kremlin (The Washington Post, 2025).

As the feud continues, its implications remain uncertain. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed surprise at Musk’s criticism, noting their recent communications and describing the fallout as “disappointing” (King & Croucher, 2025). While both Musk and Trump have hinted at potential reconciliation, with Musk responding positively to suggestions of resolving the conflict, the public nature of their dispute has captivated global audiences and raised questions about the stability of their once-close alliance (The Standard, 2025).

References
CNN Politics. (2025, June 7). June 6, 2025: Donald Trump presidency news. https://www.cnn.com
India Today. (2025, June 7). From peace talks to asylum, Russia has a laugh as Trump and Elon Musk feud. https://www.indiatoday.in
King, J., & Croucher, S. (2025, June 6). Russia offers political asylum to Elon Musk over Trump feud. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/russia-offers-political-asylum-elon-musk-over-trump-feud-2081887
The Moscow Times. (2025, June 6). Russia could give Musk political asylum amid Trump feud, lawmaker says. https://www.themoscowtimes.com
The Standard. (2025, June 6). Russia offers Elon Musk political asylum after billionaire’s public feud with Donald Trump. https://www.standard.co.uk
The Washington Post. (2025, June 7). Russian officials offer asylum, mediation and mockery for Trump-Musk rift. https://www.washingtonpost.com