Musk Labels American Islamic Organizations as “Terrorists”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has strongly condemned statements made by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), in which he described Islamic organizations as “terrorist groups.” CAIR denounced these comments as incendiary, fueling hatred and Islamophobia.

The council responded in a post on X on Sunday, following Musk’s earlier remarks, where he shared a graph illustrating the level of U.S. aid given to Islamic-affiliated organizations by USAID (United States Agency for International Development). Musk questioned:

“As many have asked, why are we paying terrorist organizations and certain countries to hate us when they are perfectly willing to do so for free?”

CAIR Responds: “Ignorance and Hatred”

CAIR replied directly, stating:

“Anyone who sees the word ‘Islam’ in the name of an American charity and immediately labels it as a terrorist organization is an ignorant individual driven by hate, with little to no understanding of American Muslims and their contributions to society, including their humanitarian efforts.”

The council emphasized that American Islamic and Arab organizations—like all others—have the right to apply for federal grants. It further noted that most of the organizations mentioned in Musk’s shared data also received U.S. government grants during Trump’s presidency.

“When Will Musk Address U.S. Funding of Israeli War Crimes?”

In a strong counterpoint, CAIR questioned:

“When will Musk start talking about the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars used by the Israeli government to massacre tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza—rather than defaming American citizens?”

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1607997591870124032

The organization condemned the Israeli occupation’s atrocities, highlighting that from October 7, 2023, to January 19, 2025, with direct U.S. support, Israel committed genocide in Gaza, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of over 160,000 Palestinians—most of them children and women—along with over 14,000 missing persons.

“Musk’s Remarks are Reckless and Dangerous”

In a separate statement, CAIR’s Executive Director, Nihad Awad, slammed Musk’s incendiary rhetoric, saying:

*”Elon Musk’s statements are reckless and dangerous. They fuel *Islamophobia, endanger innocent lives, and undermine fundamental values of justice and equality.”

Not the First Time: Musk’s History of Anti-Islam Rhetoric

This is not the first time Musk has attacked Islam. On December 28, 2022, the billionaire posted a symbolic image on X containing various ideological symbols that, according to the image’s message, aimed to “brainwash society.”

Musk captioned the post:

“I am not brainwashed.”

The image included:

- The rainbow flag (representing LGBTQ+ movements),

- The red star (symbolizing communism),

- The crescent moon, which Musk used as a symbol of Islam.

Following the controversial tweet, CAIR swiftly responded, rejecting Musk’s implications and labeling them Islamophobic.

CAIR spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper said:

“Elon Musk, we can take a joke, but Islam is not communism and does not aim to brainwash anyone.”

CAIR: The Largest Islamic Rights Organization in the U.S.

Founded in 1994, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is the largest civil rights organization for Muslims in the United States, operating through 31 offices and regional branches.

The organization is dedicated to:

✔ Promoting a better understanding of Islam,

✔ Encouraging interfaith dialogue,

✔ Defending civil rights,

✔ Empowering American Muslims,

✔ Building alliances to promote justice and mutual understanding.