Elon Musk ignited a firestorm with a now-deleted post questioning why former President Donald Trump has faced assassination attempts while President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have not. Though Musk later claimed the comment was meant as a joke, the post stirred intense reactions and underscored Musk’s increasing engagement with political controversy.
Key Details:
- The Deleted Post: Musk’s post, which read, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔,” prompted widespread backlash before being deleted. Musk claimed it was meant in jest.
- Doubling Down: Despite calls to remove the post, Musk initially stood by his comments, suggesting the point was that no attempts had been made on Biden or Harris. He eventually deleted it, acknowledging the potential for misinterpretation.
- White House Reaction: The White House condemned Musk’s comments as “irresponsible,” emphasizing that political violence has no place in society and should never be joked about.
- Secret Service Involvement: The Secret Service, tasked with investigating threats against public officials, may review Musk’s comments, as they have done in past cases involving perceived threats or jokes.
- Political Shift: Musk’s recent actions reflect a notable rightward shift, having endorsed Trump for president and criticizing progressives, which has stirred further controversy in political and social circles.
- Platform Rules: Questions remain about whether Musk violated X’s terms of service regarding incitement of violence, though he denied his posts were promoting harm.
Implications:
Musk’s latest post adds to a growing list of political controversies and conspiracy theories he’s engaged in, amplifying concerns about his platform’s guardrails. With his increasing influence, particularly as the owner of X, Musk’s comments have sparked deeper discussions about the responsibilities of public figures in addressing political violence.
