Tesla CEO Elon Musk sparked an online firestorm after making a controversial remark regarding the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred while Trump was playing golf in Florida, just two months after a previous attempt on his life during a rally in Pennsylvania.
In the midst of the chaos surrounding the latest attack, Elon Musk took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his thoughts. His now-deleted post read, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.” The comment quickly went viral, and the backlash was swift, leading to the trending hashtag “#DeportElonMusk” on the platform.
Musk’s remark did not sit well with many netizens, who criticized the tech billionaire for his insensitivity and for seemingly encouraging violence. Calls for his deportation flooded social media, with many expressing outrage over the statement. One user wrote, “It’s time to #DeportElonMusk. We should not be handing him Govt C ontracts for something so vital…” Another echoed similar sentiments, posting, “#DeportElonMusk. Musk is stirring the pot, encouraging violence.” Some even argued that his comment bordered on domestic terrorism, with one tweet reading, “This has to qualify as domestic terrorism and a threat to the chief executive. He’s hinting at a desired action.”
The controversy didn’t stop there, as the hashtag continued to trend, dividing opinions online. While many were outraged, others came to Musk’s defense. Some of his supporters argued that the reaction was overblown, and they praised Musk for allowing free speech on the platform he owns. One user commented, “Only American libshts would want to #DeportElonMusk while simultaneously pretending to care about the environment and science.” Another chimed in, writing, “It’s pretty cool that the owner of X allows #DeportElonMusk to trend. He believes in free speech, unlike the brainwashed leftists.”
Despite the polarized responses, the trending hashtag has kept Musk at the center of a heated debate. His original comment, which was deleted shortly after it was posted, left a lasting impact as screenshots of the tweet continued to circulate across social media.
Elon Musk has been an outspoken supporter of Trump, and this recent controversy only added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding the former president’s safety. In July, Trump survived the first assassination attempt when he sustained a minor ear injury at a rally in Pennsylvania. In response to the second attack, Trump assured his supporters that he was unharmed, stating through a fundraiser, “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that agents fired at a gunman near the golf course where the attack took place. The alleged gunman, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was found with an AK-47-style rifle and a GoPro camera. Although the situation was tense, the Secret Service’s swift response ensured Trump’s safety.
Following the assassination attempt, current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris expressed relief that Trump was unharmed, despite their political differences.
Although Elon Musk removed his inflammatory tweet, the damage was already done. The controversy surrounding his remark has raised concerns about the role of influential figures in shaping public discourse, especially when their words can be perceived as inciting violence. As the “#DeportElonMusk” trend continues, it remains to be seen whether this latest controversy will have lasting consequences for Musk’s public image.