Elon Musk is facing a growing backlash over a social media post in which he mocked President Zelensky, prompting several critical hashtags to trend on his “X” platform including: #ElonMuskIsATraitor.
In a post on “X” on Sunday evening, the world’s richest man published a modified version of the “frustrated boy meme” with a picture of the Ukrainian president’s face.
The post read: “When it’s been five minutes and you haven’t asked for a billion dollars in aid.”
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2023
The post came as developments in Washington meant the future of US aid for Ukraine hangs in the balance amid the political wrangling needed to avoid a government shutdown.
Among Ukrainians there was outrage at the post.
Mariana Betsa, ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia, wrote: “Elon, don’t you have empathy? Ukrainians are killed daily by Russia. We are fighting for our lives, for our families, for our country, for our freedom #StandWithUkraine.”
Elon, don’t you have empathy? Ukrainians are killed daily by Russia. We are fighting for our lives, for our families, for our country, for our freedom #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/boDxZON7qV
— Mariana Betsa (@Mariana_Betsa) October 2, 2023
Ukrainian academic Roman Sheremeta, wrote: “I used to admire Musk, but he became a mouthpiece of the Russian propaganda and just indecent human being.”
I used to admire Musk, but he became a mouthpiece of the russian propaganda and just indecent human being. pic.twitter.com/6Wchn9Boei
— Roman Sheremeta 🇺🇦 (@rshereme) October 2, 2023
Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda made their own version of Musk’s meme.
— Ukrainska Pravda in English (@pravda_eng) October 2, 2023
"Any silence or irony towards Ukraine today is a direct encouragement of Russian propaganda that justifies mass violence and destruction," presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak answered on X.
Ukraine's parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk also slammed the post while mocking Musk's attempt to "conquer space", after his SpaceX starship blew up shortly after blasting off in April.
More Than 160 Delegations Invited to Ukraine Peace Talks in Switzerland
Stefanchuk said the attempt had said failed in five minutes and left the billionaire up to his eyeballs in problems, AFP reports.
The backlash was not limited to Ukraine – British MP Stewart McDonald, said Musk’s “mind is in the sewer.”
Russian soldiers tied the hands of innocent civilians before shooting them. Rape is a weapon of war - death is how it ended for many. Children are routinely kidnapped, if not killed by Russian shelling. Musk mocks them because they ask the world for help. His mind is in the sewer https://t.co/CsgyD6iy8A
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) October 2, 2023
Glasnot Gone, an account that has tracked and reported on Russia’s full-scale invasion, posted on “X” a comment headed #MoscowMusk
#MoscowMusk at it again. Mocking president Zelensky. Mocking the Ukrainian people. Mocking freedom. The pampered, narcissistic billionaire, isn't even brave enough to use a real pic of Zelensky. Elon Musk adores dictators, so for his hero Putin, he's helping Trump gain power. pic.twitter.com/JhOYZ5Ogq0
— Glasnost Gone (@GlasnostGone) October 2, 2023
Phillips O’Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at St Andrew’s University, also harangued Musk:
Hi folks, never thought I would have reached this point, but I’m finally thinking this is it for Twitter while Musk owns it. In the last few days he’s been whipping up anti immigrant feeling and he is now mocking a people fighting for their lives against a genocidal dictatorship. pic.twitter.com/y2sZKtFh5d
— Phillips P. OBrien (@PhillipsPOBrien) October 2, 2023
Russian state media and Kremlin propagandists swiftly picked up Musk’s comments, reporting them with undisguised glee.
Vladimir Solovyo posted a screenshot of Musk’s tweet, with the caption: “Elon Musk posted a meme about Zelensky begging for money for Ukraine.”
It wasn’t the only thing posted by Musk overnight that raised eyebrows, as highlighted by Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins:
Seems like Elon Musk's brain worms really kicked into high gear overnight. pic.twitter.com/CP9zFArbnp
— Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) October 2, 2023
Musk’s controversial comments about Ukraine and Russia’s full-scale invasion have become a regular feature in recent weeks. Over the weekend he appeared to conflate the situation on Ukraine’s international border with that of the US.
In a post on “X”, he asked: “Why do so many American politicians from both parties care 100 times more about the Ukraine border than the USA border?”
Why do so many American politicians from both parties care 100 times more about the Ukraine border than the USA border?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 29, 2023
At the US border, thousands of largely peaceful migrants are crossing in the hopes of claiming asylum in the US.
At the Ukrainian border, tens of thousands of Russian troops have crossed hoping to illegally annex an entire country in what one Moscow general has described as a “stepping stone” to a wider invasion of Europe.
Speaking as a European, I think we're done with Elon Musk as of today. His antics will be neither forgotten nor forgiven. Governments and parliaments across our continent will be looking at this inappropriate agitator very differently from now on.
— Edward Hunter Christie (@EHunterChristie) October 2, 2023
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Comments (7)
The Twitter'er (X'er ?) who asked the question regarding Musk's lack of empathy is actually asking a non-rhetorical. Musk suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and is physiologically incapable of the complex hormonal and bio-electrical responses that a normal person feels as 'empathy'.
But he's also smart. He recognizes his syndrome and sometimes indulges in behavior that he thinks will appear as 'being concerned about the war'. It faux, and to normal people it looks bizarre. For other examples look at some of his antics 'bonding' with employees at SpaceX and Tesla, compared with his real world treatment of Twitter (X) employees.
His doctors should advise himself to stay off Twitter and stay away from politics. Because of his condition he cannot see that he is making himself look like a buffoon.
If Musk was president of Ukraine, which never was a military powerhouse, and now up against a still highly resourced ex superpower like Russia, that has a defence budget exceeding 100 billion, , he would be appealing for money every hour !!
If the subject is money grubbing, Musks various Twitter subscription model attempts show he’s not averse to collecting money himself, when faced with a much smaller problem compared to Ukraines situation. If Musk was president of Ukraine, which never was a military powerhouse, and now up against a still highly resourced ex superpower like Russia, that has a defence budget exceeding 100 billion, , he would be appealing for money every hour !!
If the subject is money grubbing, Musks various Twitter subscription model attempts show he’s not averse to collecting money himself, when faced with a much smaller problem compared to Ukraines situation.
As the Bible says "by their fruits shall they be known." I think we now know.
2nd richest according to Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2023/04/04/the-25-richest-people-in-the-world-2023/?sh=58a2c90f4969
The border invasion in America is like an infection. It will continue to fester until sepsis sets in and then kill the host. Americans needs to stop the infection to save America.
In Ukraine, the border invasion is more like a wild dod attacking, trying to get his teeth on your throat. The Ukrainians need to grab a rock and put the dog down. Kill or be killed.
Oh, the border to Mexico!
How about pay Americans a good salary.
How about many rich people, stop employing people
who doesn't have the proper documentation.
But still want to have cheap workers.
How about punish people who still employ illegals
without documentation, with up to six months in
federal prison. that might stop the fence jumping.
Instead of making every immigrant into monsters.
How about stop kicking people who is down already!
Who knows one day, you guys are in a spot of a bother.
But I know you always kick down, instead of actually
kick upstairs.... you know one day you might be on the
the other side.... treated the same way...
Well nobody gonna listen anyway.
Musk interviewed American sheriffs of areas along border and US Congressman that represents the district who said millions of illegal immigrants many who are convicted criminals have come across the border. Many times more military age men than the entire Russian forces invading Ukraine. Many American city mayors including New York City demand Biden improve US border security. One sheriff said he had 2 officers to stop 11,000 illegal immigrants on his 150 border. The US death toll by drugs and murder has greatly increased and human trafficking due to illegal migrants. Also, legal Ukrainian migrants to America are mad about US border because they spent money & time to legally enter US. And US system to allow Ukrainians into US fleeing Russian war has been delayed due to overwhelming US border crisis. Americans care about Ukraine but we should not be criticized for defending our homes. Musk and political reprsentatives are forcing Biden to protect Americans. Ukraine government should understand and have empathy for America's crisis.
@American Chris,
@American Chris, you are either a foreign agent or a right wing extremist - same difference. Your willfull ignorance and anti-democratic position has been duly noted.
@American Chris, You wrote, "Many American city mayors including New York City demand Biden improve US border security." Only New York City does not have an international border with another country.
You also wrote, "The US death toll by drugs...has greatly increased....due to illegal migrants." Most migrants are so poor they can't even afford to buy dirt to put in their pockets, let alone that score of Fentanyl that is going to make them rich.