March 1, 2025 | Washington, D.C. – In a provocative statement posted on X Saturday evening, tech billionaire and influential Trump administration advisor Elon Musk reportedly declared his support for the United States exiting both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN). The remarks, which surfaced around 7:57 PM PST according to multiple X users, have sent shockwaves through political and international circles, amplifying ongoing debates about America’s commitments to global alliances in the second Trump presidency. While Musk’s exact wording remains unverified by traditional news outlets as of 9:05 PM PST, the sentiment aligns with his increasingly vocal skepticism of supranational institutions and has reignited discussions about isolationism in U.S. policy.
The Statement: A Bold Stance from an Unelected Powerhouse
Posts on X, including one from user @iiamguri9 timestamped 19:57 PST, attribute to Musk the claim that “he agrees it is time for the US to leave NATO and the UN.” Another user, @pikklethq, elaborated at 19:33 PST, suggesting Musk “expressed support for the United States withdrawing from both NATO and the United Nations, questioning their relevance and impact on U.S. interests.” A third post by @VTount at 20:16 PST echoed the sentiment, stating simply, “Elon Musk says he agrees it is time for the US to leave NATO and the UN.” These posts, while lacking a direct link to an official statement or video, quickly gained traction, reflecting Musk’s outsized influence on the platform he owns.
Musk, who has no formal elected position but wields significant sway as co-leader of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has not yet confirmed or denied the remarks through official channels. His silence—or potential clarification—will be critical, as X posts alone do not constitute conclusive evidence. However, the timing and context suggest this could be more than mere social media noise, given Musk’s recent pattern of challenging establishment norms and his proximity to President Donald Trump’s inner circle.
Context: Musk’s Evolving Role and Worldview
Musk’s reported stance comes amid his deepening involvement in U.S. governance since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. As a key architect of DOGE, Musk has spearheaded efforts to slash federal spending and workforce, often framing his mission as a fight against inefficiency and overreach. His rhetoric has increasingly extended beyond domestic policy, touching on international affairs—a domain typically reserved for diplomats and elected officials. During Trump’s first cabinet meeting on February 26, 2025, Musk shared the stage with the president, touting DOGE’s cost-cutting initiatives while wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, signaling his alignment with Trump’s America First agenda.
Musk’s skepticism of international bodies is not entirely new. In past X posts and interviews, he has criticized the UN as bloated and ineffective, once calling it a “relic” in a 2023 thread about global governance. His views on NATO are less documented, but his support for Trump—who has repeatedly questioned the alliance’s value and threatened to withdraw during his first term—suggests a shared disdain for multilateral commitments perceived as draining U.S. resources. The February 25, 2025, BBC report on Trump hinting that the U.S. may not defend European allies further underscores this alignment, with Musk now appearing to amplify that sentiment.
NATO and the UN: Pillars Under Scrutiny
If Musk’s statement is accurate, it targets two cornerstones of post-World War II international order. NATO, formed in 1949, has been the bedrock of Western collective defense, with the U.S. as its linchpin. Article 5, invoking mutual defense, has been triggered only once—after 9/11—highlighting its rarity but potency. Yet, Trump’s first term saw him label NATO “obsolete” and demand greater financial contributions from allies, a stance that alarmed European leaders. His second term has intensified those tensions, with a February 26 Hindustan Times report noting Trump’s adoption of Russia’s narrative that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations sparked Putin’s 2022 invasion—a view Musk might echo given his reported comments.
The UN, established in 1945 to prevent global conflict and promote cooperation, has faced similar criticism from America First advocates. Musk’s alleged comparison of the UN to “Nazis” (per X user @AdlerJoelle) mirrors fringe critiques of its Human Rights Council and peacekeeping failures, though no evidence ties him to such extreme phrasing here. Recent U.S. actions, like siding with Russia on a UN resolution against the Ukraine war on February 24, 2025 (per Hindustan Times), hint at a shifting stance that Musk’s remarks could accelerate.
Reactions: Alarm, Support, and Uncertainty
The reported statement has sparked a spectrum of reactions on X and beyond. Critics like @QuentinDempster at 19:31 PST warned that “unelected Elon Musk endorses US withdrawal from the United Nations and NATO—the post-WWII alliance which has given us a peaceful Europe until Putin invaded Ukraine three years ago,” framing it as a reckless unraveling of stability. Conversely, supporters like @AdlerJoelle cheered the move, citing a Yemeni’s testimony to the UN Human Rights Council as proof of its moral bankruptcy. “Time to shut down the UN, they are nothing more than NAZIS,” the user wrote, reflecting a populist strain Musk often taps into.
Official responses remain scant as of Saturday night. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who has navigated Trump’s skepticism before, has not commented, nor has UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Within the U.S., the State Department and Pentagon—key stakeholders in these alliances—have yet to weigh in, likely awaiting confirmation of Musk’s intent. However, the growing unease within Trump’s administration over Musk’s unchecked influence, as reported by The New York Times on March 1, could complicate any policy shift. FBI Director Kash Patel and others recently defied Musk’s DOGE directives, signaling internal resistance that might extend to this issue.
Implications: A Fork in America’s Path
If Musk’s position reflects or shapes Trump’s agenda, the implications are profound. Withdrawing from NATO would upend decades of transatlantic security, potentially emboldening adversaries like Russia and China while leaving allies like Germany and the UK scrambling. Exiting the UN would cede America’s veto power on the Security Council, weakening its global diplomatic leverage—a move even isolationists might question. Financially, the U.S. funds about 22% of the UN’s budget and 38% of NATO’s, per 2024 figures; Musk’s cost-cutting zeal could frame this as wasteful, though critics argue the strategic costs outweigh the savings.
Domestically, Musk’s stance could deepen polarization. His role in DOGE has already drawn ire for mass firings—thousands of federal jobs cut by February 26, per NPR—and conflicts of interest tied to his companies’ $6 billion in government contracts (The Guardian, February 27). Pushing for NATO and UN exits might rally Trump’s base but alienate moderates and national security hawks, risking a backlash as midterms loom in 2026.
What’s Next?
As of 9:05 PM PST, the story remains fluid. Musk could clarify his remarks on X overnight, a platform where he’s posted 20 times daily on average in 2025. If authentic, his statement might have emerged from a late-night thread or a response to a user’s query—common for him—or even a quip on The Joe Rogan Experience #2281, recorded February 28, though no such topic surfaced there based on available recaps. Alternatively, it could be a trial balloon for Trump, testing public appetite for a radical pivot.
Verification is critical. Without a primary source—say, a video or Musk’s own post—the claim rests on X chatter, which, while influential, is not definitive. News outlets like Reuters or NBC, which have tracked Musk’s DOGE moves, may confirm by morning. Until then, this is a developing narrative, one that captures Musk’s knack for disruption and the Trump era’s appetite for upheaval.
Conclusion: A Maverick’s Gambit
Elon Musk’s reported call for the U.S. to leave NATO and the UN, if true, marks his boldest foray yet into reshaping America’s global footprint. Whether a serious policy push or a provocative musing, it underscores his unprecedented role: a private citizen with public power, steering a superpower toward uncharted waters. As the world watches, the question looms—will Musk’s vision prevail, or will it fracture under the weight of its own ambition?
