After a brief absence from U.S. political discourse, billionaire Elon Musk has made a high-profile return, drawing attention following a widely shared dinner with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Since the beginning of Trump’s second term in 2025, Musk has taken on an increasingly influential role in shaping government policy. His involvement has gone so far that he is widely viewed as the de facto head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration.
Not everyone, however, welcomes Musk’s growing political presence. Some critics argue that the tech entrepreneur should remain focused on his business ventures rather than public policy. Among them is British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan, who recently voiced his concerns during a discussion on his media platform, Zeteo News.
While outlining what he believes the “ideal” Democratic presidential candidate for the 2028 election should represent, Hasan argued that the party must adopt a far tougher stance. He claimed that future Democratic leaders should not only promise reform and progress, but also pursue accountability by prosecuting individuals who, in his view, have damaged the country.
During the conversation, Hasan accused Musk of being involved in what he described as the “engineering” of the so-called Somali fraud controversy. He linked Musk to the spread of narratives surrounding a viral video released by a right-wing YouTuber during the Christmas period, which sparked backlash against the Somali community.
According to Hasan, the outrage surrounding the video was not organic. “That entire episode was manufactured by people like Elon Musk,” he alleged, suggesting that influential figures amplified the claims to fuel public anger.
Hasan later referenced an exchange with actor Jon Favreau on X, joking—though only partially—that a Democratic presidential hopeful could gain major support by campaigning on a promise to prosecute Musk. He suggested such a position would immediately elevate a candidate’s standing in the primaries.
Musk did not remain silent. Responding directly to a clip of Hasan’s remarks circulating on X, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO fired back with a blunt comment, calling Hasan a “pathetic weasel” and declaring, “Game over.”
The controversy gained further traction following a viral video by right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley, who visited multiple Somali-owned childcare centers in Minnesota, alleging widespread fraud. The video led to public calls for investigations and reportedly contributed to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s decision to withdraw from the reelection race.
