HUMZA Yousaf has challenged billionaire Twitter/X owner Elon Musk to a debate.
“Name the day, name the hour, name the minute. I'll be there. But I suspect [Musk] wouldn’t dream of it,” he told The National in an exclusive interview.
The former Scottish first minister and the world’s richest man have had a longstanding row, including a series of bitter online clashes accusing each other of racism over the past year.
Just last week, Yousaf accused Musk of seeking to “inflame racial tensions” after bringing up the infamous murder of Kriss Donald in 2004.
The Tesla owner (below), meanwhile, branded Yousaf “super racist” during one of their online arguments last year, daring Yousaf to sue him.
The billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX, who has a key role in the incoming Trump administration, has made a number of remarks about UK politics of late – including calling for far-right agitator Tommy Robinson to be released from prison.
“Elon Musk is not an idiot. He's far from an idiot. In fact, he's probably a genius,” Yousaf said.
“They often say there's a fine line between genius and crazy, and he probably dances across that line several times a day, but he's not an idiot.”
He then asked: “And do you honestly think he doesn't know about Tommy Robinson having a rap sheet that's as long as your arm? Or the fact that he is driven by anti-Muslim hatred, the fact that he lied about a Syrian refugee?
"The fact that he committed mortgage fraud, and the fact that he assaulted an off-duty police officer? Do you think Elon Musk doesn't have Twitter/X, doesn't have Google? Do you think he can, can't see those facts?"
Yousaf went on: “Of course he can, but he chooses to purposely ignore them and amplify the narrative that supports the hard-right, the far right and white supremacy. And that is what is motivating Elon Musk.
"He has far-right sympathies, he wants to progress the far-right because he sees it as a savior of the Western world, and he sees, I think, Islam and therefore Muslims as a threat to Western values."
Despite their online spats, Yousaf said that he and Musk have never had an actual private conversation.
And when asked whether he’d like to call out the billionaire for a debate, Yousaf responded: “Yes, any day of the week on his platform. If he wishes to have a debate, I'm more than happy to do that.”
He cast doubt on whether Musk would take him up on it, however.
He said: “Elon Musk, I notice, only does interviews on those channels that support his world view.
“He doesn't like to be challenged because, again, he spreads disinformation multiple times a day. And does so on purpose. Not because he is devoid of the facts, but he does so knowing the facts.
“I'll be more than happy to debate Musk. Name the day, name the hour, name the minute. I'll be there. But I suspect he wouldn’t dream of it.”
The full interview with Humza Yousaf will appear on the website and in the print newspaper version of The National tomorrow.
