Elon Musk faced significant backlash after making a now-deleted post on X, where he made a questionable remark about Vice President Kamala Harris. The comment came on Sunday, just after the FBI reported what appeared to be a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Following the reported incident in West Palm Beach, Florida, Musk responded to a post on X asking, “Why they want to kill Donald Trump?” with his own comment: “And no one is even trying to assassinate Kamala,” accompanied by a thinking face emoji. The post was quickly removed by Musk, who later explained it was intended as a joke.
In a follow-up on Monday, Musk attempted to clarify, admitting, “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 added, “Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text.”
Despite Musk’s explanation, his post drew strong criticism from political figures and media commentators alike. Former Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) took to X to express his disapproval, writing, “What is wrong with this guy?!?! Can anyone who loves him have an intervention? I’m serious this is off the rails.”
Kinzinger didn’t stop there, later pointing out that Musk’s role as a contractor for the Department of Defense and the U.S. government should come with more responsibility. “He needs to stop, or the govt needs to treat him equally to everyone else. Being rich doesn’t put you above the law,” Kinzinger added.
Conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg also condemned Musk’s post, labeling it “appalling and indefensible.”
The controversy surrounding Musk’s post unfolded after an incident earlier in the day when Trump was playing golf at his West Palm Beach course. According to authorities, Secret Service agents spotted a man armed with a rifle near the course’s perimeter, about 300 to 500 yards away. The rifle was reportedly pushed through bushes.
A Secret Service agent discharged a weapon at the suspect, who dropped the AK-47-style firearm and fled the scene in an SUV. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that the suspect was apprehended on Interstate 95 while driving from Palm Beach County into Martin County. A witness’s photo of the SUV helped law enforcement identify the vehicle.
Both the Trump campaign and the Secret Service later assured the public that the former president was unharmed. The situation was resolved about an hour after the Secret Service opened fire at the suspect.
This incident followed a similar one just nine weeks prior when a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. During that event, Trump was struck in the ear, and one attendee was tragically killed.
Musk’s recent controversial remarks are not his first. After endorsing Trump’s re-election bid following the July shooting, Musk has made repeated criticisms of Vice President Harris, who is the Democratic presidential nominee. These actions have only intensified the scrutiny surrounding his online behavior.
In recent months, Musk has faced numerous criticisms for his posts and reposts on X. One notable instance occurred last November when he interacted with a post promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory, drawing widespread attention.
