In a surprising development that adds an international twist to a brewing domestic conflict in the United States, a top Russian lawmaker has said that Elon Musk could be granted political asylum in Russia if his feud with former US President Donald Trump intensifies.
Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, floated the possibility during an interview with Russian state media. “I think that Musk has a completely different game, that he will not need any political asylum, although, if he did, Russia, of course, could provide it,” Novikov said, referencing the country’s past asylum offers to figures like Edward Snowden.
The comment came in the wake of an increasingly public war of words between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The fallout escalated when former White House strategist Steve Bannon accused Musk of being “an illegal alien” and called for his deportation. Bannon also urged the US government to seize control of SpaceX under the Defence Production Act, citing national security concerns following Musk’s threat to shut down the Dragon spacecraft program, which ferries astronauts to the International Space Station.
Novikov noted that Musk’s political maneuvers over the years suggest that he is unlikely to seek asylum, but added that Russia would be willing to accommodate him if it ever came to that. “Individual disagreements will remain separate disagreements,” he said, adding that Musk is not aligned with the current Democratic administration and may have his own long-term strategic plans.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has officially distanced itself from the controversy. Responding to media questions on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “This is a domestic issue of the United States, and we don’t intend to interfere. We’re confident the US President will handle this situation on his own.”
While the offer from Novikov is informal, it adds to the international spotlight on Musk’s increasingly turbulent relationship with US political figures. The billionaire’s influence, both in technology and public discourse, continues to stir reactions far beyond Silicon Valley—now even reaching into the Kremlin.
