Elon Musk dialled in from the future — or at least from his bunker — to deliver what may go down as his most chaotic interview to date.
Speaking remotely at the Qatar Economic Forum via Bloomberg, Musk brought peak billionaire energy: deflecting questions, hurling insults, threatening prison time, and referencing Jeffrey Epstein while trying to explain why everything at Tesla is fine, why DOGE isn’t a dictatorship, and why regulations are apparently what happen when there’s “no cleansing war.”
“I’m not someone who’s ever committed violence…”
But don’t worry, Musk warned — they’re going to prison.
“Massive violence was committed against my companies. Massive violence was threatened against me. Who are these people?… Don’t worry, we’re coming for you.”
He was talking about protestors who vandalized Tesla showrooms. But the implication extended beyond — to anyone organizing or funding them. The camera didn’t cut away as Musk dramatically pointed at the interviewer, Mishal Husain, who kept her composure while Musk spiraled.
Tesla’s Fine. Don’t Worry About It.
When pressed about Tesla’s 71% plunge in quarterly profits, Musk responded like a sulky teenager who didn’t study for an economics exam:
“It’s already turned around.”
That was it. No numbers. No explanation. Just vibes.
“Tesla stock wouldn’t be trading at all-time highs if things weren’t in good shape. Don’t worry about it.”
When Mishal Husain challenged him on brand damage — and those viral Tesla bumper stickers that say, “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy” — Musk smiled:
“Some people are buying it because Elon’s crazy.”
Calling the Interviewer an “NPC” — Twice
Musk didn’t like the questions, and he made that painfully obvious.
He called the BBC-trained broadcaster an “NPC,” gamer-speak for a mindless character. Not once. Twice.
“It’s like talking to a computer,” Musk snapped.
Bill Gates, Epstein, and Babysitting
Then came the most quoted line of the event. When asked about criticism from Bill Gates, particularly over the dismantling of USAID, Musk fired back:
“Who does Bill Gates think he is to make comments about the welfare of children given that he was very close with Jeffrey Epstein? I wouldn’t trust that guy to babysit my kids.”
DOGE, Ebola, and the $2 Trillion Deficit
Musk defended his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), downplaying his power.
“We’re not a dictator. We’re advisors.”
Except… not really. Musk openly bragged about canceling USAID programs — including Ebola prevention — and then restoring it “immediately” after realizing it was probably a bad idea.
“We all want Ebola prevention,” Musk mused.
AI, War, and the “Cleansing Function” of Conflict
Asked about overregulation, Musk gave what might be the most disturbing quote of the night:
“When you have an extended period of prosperity with no existential war, there’s no cleansing function for unnecessary laws and regulations.”
Yes. Elon Musk, the world’s top defence contractor and AI entrepreneur, said war has a cleansing function.
On South Africa, Racism, and Starlink
When discussing his failure to get a Starlink license in South Africa, Musk drifted into grievance politics:
“Why do you like racist laws?” he asked Husain repeatedly, as she tried to move on.
On Putin, the WSJ, and Reality
Musk denied any recent contact with Vladimir Putin.
“I was on a video call with him about five years ago.”
Then slammed the Wall Street Journal — which reported regular contact — as:
“The worst newspaper in the world.”
The Bigger Picture: Meltdown or Messaging?
Was this a meltdown? A trolling masterclass? Or Musk using anger to rally his base again — the same “Angry Elon” energy that helped push rockets into orbit and crypto into the mainstream?
Maybe all three. But one thing is clear: Elon Musk is back in political, economic, and cultural combat mode. And like it or not, he’s dragging Tesla, DOGE, xAI, and Starlink with him.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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