Elon Musk promotes violent Armie Hammer film, fuels far-right rhetoric in Europe
Elon Musk is facing criticism after using his social media platform X to promote Citizen Vigilante, a controversial film that depicts a vigilante carrying out violent attacks against migrants, government officials and law enforcement officers in Europe.
The film, directed by German filmmaker Uwe Boll and starring Armie Hammer, received little attention upon release but surged in visibility after Musk made it available for free on X for 48 hours in June. The exposure reportedly helped push the movie into the rankings of major streaming platforms, including Apple and Amazon.
Musk also reposted comments about the film, including one that described vigilante killings as a “moderate response” to crimes committed by immigrants.
Critics say the episode reflects Musk’s growing involvement in European political debates, particularly around immigration and multiculturalism. Over the past year, he has repeatedly used X to support right-wing politicians and movements across countries including France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
“This is a crusade,” said Georgios Samaras, a public policy expert at King’s College London. “Musk uses the power he has to amplify the ideas that he thinks should dominate society. He knows he has the money and he knows he has the influence.”
Musk has increasingly embraced the concept of “remigration”, a term used by anti-immigration activists to advocate large-scale deportations of migrants. Following a recent attack at a Berlin Pride event that authorities described as an “Islamist terror attack”, Musk responded to an anti-immigration influencer by writing: “Anyone who opposes remigration is a traitor”.
The billionaire has also faced criticism for amplifying content from far-right figures and commenting on immigration-related unrest in Europe.
While supporters argue he is exercising free speech and drawing attention to public concerns, opponents warn that his posts risk legitimising extremist narratives.
The film itself has divided audiences. Variety described it as “astonishingly bad”, while conservative commentator Rod Dreher called it “fascist propaganda”.
Asked in a recent interview why he promoted a film that includes the murder of a Muslim family, Musk defended the decision, saying: “It’s a movie and it’s worth watching.”
Despite the backlash, the controversy has further highlighted Musk’s growing role in Europe’s increasingly polarised debates over immigration, identity and free speech.
Source: BBC
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