Tech billionaire Elon Musk has publicly asserted that he identifies solely as an American, downplaying his South African roots and seemingly sidestepping his Canadian citizenship. The Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder made the statement on X, the social media platform he owns, just days after a growing petition in Canada called for the revocation of his citizenship.
Musk, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. His Canadian citizenship came by birthright through his mother, Maye Musk, who was born in Saskatchewan. At 18, he moved to Canada before later relocating to the U.S., where he became a naturalized citizen in 2002.
However, in his recent post on X, Musk distanced himself from his South African heritage and refrained from acknowledging his Canadian ties altogether.
“Should note that I grew up as English South African, not Afrikaans, and consider myself to be simply an American. No hyphen,” he wrote. He also weighed in on the current situation in South Africa, adding: “That said, what’s happening in South Africa is deeply wrong. Not what Mandela intended at all.”
His remarks sparked debate online, with many questioning his motivations for publicly reinforcing his American identity while ignoring his Canadian citizenship.
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Musk’s statement quickly became a topic of discussion on X, with some users mocking his stance. Many pointed out the irony of his rejection of hyphenated identity while holding multiple citizenships.
“We Americans see you simply as a South African, and simply as a piece of [expletive]. No hyphen,” one user posted. Another user made a sarcastic jab at Musk’s history of controversial remarks about gender identity, saying: “So you identify as someone else than you were born as? Interesting.” Others questioned the validity of his stance, with one user asking: “Why do you have multiple citizenships if you consider yourself to be an American?”
Musk’s comments come at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Canada are rising, and his role in political discourse has been under scrutiny. A petition calling for the revocation of his Canadian citizenship has garnered over 360,000 signatures. The petition accuses Musk of engaging in activities against Canada’s national interest and using his wealth to interfere in political matters.
While Musk has not directly addressed the petition, his decision to highlight his American identity—while omitting any mention of Canada—has fueled speculation that he is attempting to distance himself from the controversy.
As one of the most influential figures in technology and business, Musk has always been a divisive personality. His latest remarks have only added to the ongoing debates about his political and social influence. Whether his comments were a strategic move or a personal reflection, they have once again placed him at the center of a global conversation about identity, citizenship, and influence in the digital age.
