Elon Musk: The Draft Dodger and His Complicated Legacy

Elon Musk’s resignation from South Africa was partially due to a desire to avoid compulsory military service. His acknowledgment of this history resurfaced in 2025 amidst criticisms of his policies affecting military veterans. Musk’s brief academic stint at the University of Pretoria emphasizes his motivations to escape the apartheid military draft, as detailed in Ashlee Vance’s biography.

In early 2025, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) enacted substantial cuts to the Veterans Affairs (VA) agency, igniting criticism from military veterans. Critics labeled Musk a “draft dodger” based on his history of avoiding military conscription in South Africa. An individual on social media noted Musk’s past, referring to their brother who endured imprisonment as a conscientious objector during apartheid, questioning Musk’s authority to speak on veterans’ issues.

Elon Musk has publicly acknowledged that his departure from South Africa was partly motivated by his desire to evade compulsory military service, expressing a refusal to fight for an apartheid regime. During a candid exchange with actor Rainn Wilson in 2013, Musk stated, “No. I left at 17. Well, in part, in order to avoid conscription in the army,” highlighting his aversion to serving in a military that suppressed Black individuals.

Ashlee Vance’s biography of Musk details his avoidance of military service through lackluster academic performance at the University of Pretoria, which he attended briefly before leaving for Canada at age 17. Musk sought to reach the United States expeditiously, utilizing his Canadian ancestry as a means to enter the country. His decision to leave was influenced by the mandatory military service which he found distasteful due to its connection with the apartheid system.

During the time he spent at the University of Pretoria, Musk engaged in minimal efforts towards his studies, merely biding time while waiting for his Canadian immigration process. South Africa’s requirement of military service for white men began in 1967, eventually extending to two years, before being abolished in the 1990s alongside the end of apartheid. Subsequently, Musk moved to Canada in 1989 to pursue college opportunities, leveraging his mother’s citizenship for access to education.

Elon Musk’s departure from South Africa was notably influenced by his attempt to avoid mandatory military service during the apartheid regime. His actions, both in evading conscription and the brief academic period at the University of Pretoria, reflect this sentiment. Musk’s history has become a focal point for critics, especially following recent controversies surrounding his policies in the Department of Government Efficiency, reaffirming the complexities surrounding his legacy.

Original Source: www.snopes.com