Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is in the spotlight after making bold claims that media coverage, particularly a recent Der Spiegel cover, is encouraging assassination threats against him. The magazine labelled Musk as “Public Enemy No. 2” due to his political stance and public endorsement of former US President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
During a campaign town hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Musk expressed his frustration with the portrayal in the media, saying, “I’m like, enemy number two of what? Democracy? I’m pro-democracy. I’m literally trying to uphold the Constitution and ensure a fair election.” The Tesla CEO joked about needing to “cancel my open car parade” and “upgrade [his] security” due to the heightened threats following his endorsement of Trump.
Musk has been actively supporting Trump, particularly in key swing states like Pennsylvania, where he attended a rally in Butler. After a shooting at a Trump rally on July 13, Musk took to social media, stating, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
Despite the growing threats and criticism, Musk is standing firm, acknowledging that his actions have “dramatically increased [his] risk of being assassinated.” Still, he felt the stakes were too high not to get involved.
During the town hall, Musk also addressed his discomfort with the increasing hostility from the “radical left,” remarking, “Sometimes I’m a little shook by the things that I see.” He reiterated that despite the risks, his goal is to support democracy and protect constitutional rights.
Musk shared an image of the Der Spiegel cover on social media, adding, “With their relentless hit pieces, legacy mainstream media are actively encouraging the assassination of Donald Trump and now me.”
Musk’s endorsement of Trump has not been without controversy. He announced a $1 million award for random supporters who signed an online petition backing the First and Second Amendments, open only to voters in key swing states. Critics accused Musk of trying to “buy the election” and committing a potential “felony.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro responded to Musk’s involvement, telling NBC’s Meet the Press, “There are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how dark money is flowing. It’s something law enforcement should look into.”
This explosive development marks yet another chapter in Musk’s controversial involvement in US politics as he faces backlash from various political groups and media outlets. Whether or not these claims will lead to legal scrutiny remains to be seen.
