Elon Musk and RFK Jr.: The Hypocrisy of Scientific Inquiry and Corporate Interests

In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk if he liked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to which Musk responded affirmatively. He went on to say that RFK Jr. is often mislabeled as “anti-science” but is, in fact, someone who simply wants to question the science—something Musk himself claims is the “essence of the scientific method.”

However, Musk’s own stance on radiofrequency (RF) radiation and cell phone safety contradicts this very principle. When discussing RF radiation with Joe Rogan, Musk dismissively claimed that even if he wore a helmet made of cell phones, he wouldn’t be worried about health risks. This stance starkly contradicts RFK Jr.’s successful lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which forced the agency to reevaluate its outdated wireless radiation safety guidelines.

This article will investigate Musk’s contradictory positions, revealing how his corporate interests in Starlink, Tesla, and Neuralink incentivize him to downplay RF health risks. We will also explore the scientific evidence Musk ignores and why RFK Jr.’s advocacy is more aligned with genuine scientific inquiry than Musk’s dismissive rhetoric.

The Contradiction: Musk on RFK Jr. vs. Musk on RF Radiation

Musk’s Defense of RFK Jr.

In his conversation with Trump, Musk defended RFK Jr. as someone who simply “questions the science,” a position Musk himself claims is foundational to scientific progress. This statement was made in the context of RFK Jr.’s skepticism of mainstream narratives, including issues related to vaccines and public health policies. Musk acknowledged that institutions have misled the public, particularly regarding COVID-19, suggesting that questioning the official stance is justified.

Yet, when it comes to RF radiation and cell phone safety, Musk refuses to apply the same scientific scrutiny. Instead, he outright dismisses concerns about non-thermal biological effects, reducing the discussion to an outdated industry argument that RF waves can only cause harm through heating—an assertion that has been debunked by thousands of peer-reviewed studies.

Musk’s Dismissal of RF Radiation Risks

During his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Musk mocked concerns about RF radiation, stating:

“If I had a helmet of cell phones strapped around my head and around my nuts, I would not worry.”

This statement is emblematic of Musk’s approach: conflating skepticism with outright denial when it suits his financial interests. He reduces RF radiation concerns to the simplistic notion that only ionizing radiation is dangerous, ignoring the extensive body of research on non-thermal effects.

The Science Musk Ignores

RFK Jr.’s Legal Victory Against the FCC

In contrast to Musk’s dismissiveness, RFK Jr. successfully sued the FCC, proving that the agency’s wireless radiation safety guidelines were inadequate and failed to consider the extensive research on non-thermal biological effects. The court ruling forced the FCC to reexamine its regulations, acknowledging that the agency had ignored scientific evidence for decades.

RFK Jr. has consistently warned about the dangers of prolonged cell phone exposure, particularly for children. In a recent statement, he advised:

“If you got a kid, don’t ever let him put his cell phone near his head. Don’t let them carry it in their front pocket. Don’t let them carry it near their ovaries.”

His stance is based on extensive scientific literature, which Musk conveniently ignores.

The Overwhelming Evidence for Non-Thermal RF Radiation Effects

While Musk dismisses RF concerns as “baseless,” the scientific community has a different perspective. Here are key findings from peer-reviewed studies:

• Increased Cancer Risk: The National Toxicology Program (NTP) found “clear evidence” that RF radiation causes cancer in rats, a finding confirmed by the Ramazzini Institute’s large-scale study.
• DNA Damage: Multiple studies show that RF radiation causes DNA breaks, which can lead to mutations and carcinogenesis.
• Neurological and Cognitive Effects: Research indicates that chronic RF exposure can lead to cognitive impairment, memory issues, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Reproductive Harm: Studies link cell phone radiation to reduced sperm motility and viability, as well as potential risks to fetal development.

Musk’s dismissal of these findings is not rooted in scientific integrity but rather in protecting his business interests.

Why Musk’s Anti-Science Stance Is Worse Than Ignorance

Musk is not an uninformed layperson; he is a powerful businessman with vested interests in wireless technologies, including:

• Starlink (Global broadband network relying on RF radiation for connectivity)
• Tesla’s Wireless Capabilities (Autonomous driving, car connectivity, and software updates depend on wireless communication)
• Neuralink (A brain-chip interface that utilizes wireless data transmission)

If Musk were to acknowledge the health risks of RF radiation, it could undermine these ventures, potentially leading to regulatory scrutiny and public backlash. Instead, he chooses to feign ignorance, perpetuating the outdated myth that non-ionizing radiation is harmless.

This makes Musk’s position worse than simple misunderstanding—it is a calculated effort to suppress inconvenient science in order to maximize corporate profits.

The Historical Parallel: Suppressing Science for Profit

Musk’s stance on RF radiation echoes past scientific cover-ups:

• The Tobacco Industry: For decades, tobacco companies denied the link between smoking and lung cancer, funding studies to create doubt.
• The Lead Industry: Leaded gasoline and paint were marketed as safe, despite overwhelming evidence of neurotoxicity.
• The Asbestos Cover-Up: Corporations hid the dangers of asbestos exposure to avoid costly litigation.

Similarly, the telecom industry has spent decades downplaying RF risks, funding studies designed to produce negative findings and lobbying regulatory agencies to maintain lax safety standards.

Musk, who positions himself as a visionary, is complicit in this same playbook.

Conclusion: Musk Must End His Anti-Science Position on RF Radiation

Musk’s contradiction is clear:

• He defends RFK Jr.’s right to question science yet refuses to question outdated RF safety guidelines.
• He promotes scientific skepticism selectively, dismissing RF concerns despite overwhelming evidence.
• His business empire profits from the continued denial of RF risks, making his anti-science stance not just misguided, but deliberately misleading.

If Musk truly believes in the “essence of the scientific method,” he must apply it to RF radiation research. Until he acknowledges the risks and supports updated safety regulations, his claims of being pro-science will remain hollow.

The burden is on Musk to prove that he values scientific integrity over corporate profits. The public must hold him accountable and demand transparency in how emerging technologies impact human health.

Call to Action

Readers should:

• Educate themselves on the non-thermal effects of RF radiation.
• Advocate for stricter safety standards and push regulatory agencies to update guidelines.
• Question corporate narratives that prioritize profit over public health.

Musk’s legacy will be defined not just by his technological achievements but by whether he chooses to stand on the right side of history in the RF radiation debate. The time for empty dismissals is over—scientific scrutiny must apply to all, including the world’s wealthiest entrepreneur.