Billionaire Elon Musk is once again at the center of controversy, sparking outrage after he retweeted a post that downplayed the atrocities committed by some of history’s most infamous dictators.
On Thursday, Musk shared a message on X (formerly Twitter) that claimed, “Stalin, Mao, and Hitler didn’t murder millions of people. Their public sector employees did.”
This disturbing message, which has since been deleted, ignited fury from across the political spectrum, particularly from labor unions, human rights organizations, and the Jewish community. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents public service workers, responded sharply, condemning Musk’s post as offensive and harmful.
“America’s public service workers — our nurses, teachers, firefighters, librarians — chose making our communities safe, healthy, and strong over getting rich,” said Lee Saunders, AFSCME president. “They are not, as the world’s richest man implies, genocidal murderers.”
Saunders continued his criticism, pointing out Musk’s disconnect from the reality faced by average Americans. “Elon Musk and the billionaires in this administration have no idea what real people go through every day. That’s why he’s so willing to take a chainsaw to people’s jobs, Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare,” he added.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization dedicated to combating antisemitism, also issued a statement condemning Musk’s post. ]]
“It is deeply disturbing and irresponsible for someone with a large public platform to elevate the kind of rhetoric that serves to undermine the seriousness of these issues,” the ADL said. Musk, with over 219 million followers on X, holds significant influence, and the implications of his actions have far-reaching consequences.
Musk’s retweet was particularly egregious, as it downplayed the scale of genocides committed by Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, and Mao Zedong. Hitler’s regime orchestrated the Holocaust, which led to the deaths of six million European Jews, as well as millions more during World War II. Stalin’s purges, forced famine, and executions are estimated to have killed between six and nine million Soviets, while Mao’s policies, including the Great Leap Forward, resulted in the deaths of between 30 and 45 million people through famine, disease, and executions.
This retweet came amid growing tensions surrounding Musk’s leadership of Tesla and his controversial political associations. His actions have led to calls for boycotts against the company, and protests, such as the “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations, have targeted Tesla owners and dealerships across the country. These events have coincided with a sharp drop in Tesla’s stock, which has plummeted by almost 50% since its peak in December.
Musk’s retweet is also not an isolated incident. Back in January, he faced backlash for a gesture during an event for President Donald Trump that critics likened to a Nazi salute. Musk downplayed the incident, but his continued use of Nazi references and memes has raised concerns about his political leanings. The ADL had previously defended Musk’s awkward gesture at the Trump event, stating that it was not a Nazi salute, but emphasizing that “the Holocaust is not a joke.”
Musk’s recent actions have also led to accusations of antisemitism. In 2023, Musk faced severe criticism after agreeing with a post that made antisemitic remarks about Jewish communities. The backlash resulted in advertisers fleeing from his platform, further escalating the controversy surrounding his online behavior.
His connection to far-right politics has also drawn attention. Musk has openly aligned himself with right-wing movements in Europe, appearing at an event in January hosted by Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland party. His remarks about moving beyond Germany’s past guilt over the Nazi era were met with widespread criticism.
Musk’s latest retweet, comparing government workers to historical figures responsible for the deaths of millions, is just another instance of his growing tendency to make reckless and inflammatory statements. With his vast influence, Musk’s words carry weight, and his disregard for historical accuracy and the suffering of millions of people has rightfully sparked outrage.
