Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has found himself embroiled in controversy following a contentious post about assassination attempts on political figures. The incident unfolded in the wake of what the FBI is investigating as a potential second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
On Sunday, gunshots were reportedly fired near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. This incident comes just two months after Trump survived another apparent attempt on his life when a shooter opened fire during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. In response to these events, Musk took to X to question why there had been no similar attempts on the lives of President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris.
The post, which Musk later deleted, sparked immediate backlash from users on the platform. Critics labeled the remark as “appalling,” “indefensible,” “irresponsible,” and “dangerous.” AI expert Gary Marcus went so far as to suggest that if any violence were to occur against Biden, Harris, or other political figures following Musk’s post, the billionaire’s role in such events should be scrutinized.
This is not the first time Musk’s comments on X have stirred controversy. His posts have been cited as a key reason why advertisers have been hesitant to return to the platform. In a recent incident, Musk deleted a post promoting a Tucker Carlson interview with an individual accused of being a “Nazi apologist.”
Initially, Musk appeared reluctant to remove the controversial post about assassination attempts. However, after an X user suggested he delete and rephrase it due to misinterpretation, Musk acquiesced, stating, “Fair enough. I don’t want to do what they have done, even in jest.”
In a subsequent post, Musk reflected on the episode, acknowledging that he had learned a valuable lesson. He wrote, “Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X.” He further elaborated, “Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text.”
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges Musk faces in managing his public persona on the social media platform he owns. His tendency to share controversial remarks has repeatedly landed him in hot water, affecting both his personal reputation and the business interests of X.
Musk’s relationship with political figures has been a subject of interest. He has publicly endorsed Trump for the 2024 election and has been critical of both Harris and Biden. Trump, in turn, has praised Musk, calling him a “smart” and “brilliant guy,” and has floated the idea of having the billionaire serve in his government should he win the election. Musk has expressed interest in potentially serving on a government efficiency commission in such a scenario.
As of the time of reporting, representatives for Musk, Biden, and Harris had not responded to requests for comment on the matter. The incident serves as a reminder of the power and potential consequences of social media posts, especially when made by influential figures with large followings.