Elon Musk responds sharply to Der Spiegel after the publication labeled him ‘Enemy No. 2,’ addressing the controversy surrounding his influence and actions.
Elon Musk has responded to the German magazine Der Spiegel, which recently labeled him as “public enemy No. 2” and accused him of collaborating with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to “decompose liberal democracy.” In his rebuttal, Musk asserted that he is a strong advocate for democracy.
On Sunday, the German publication released an article featuring a cover image of the tech mogul with elements of Trump’s face merging through his own. The article highlighted how the owner of X and CEO of Tesla has gained significant economic influence and established a high-profile presence in the media.
In just a few years, Musk has not only embraced extreme right-wing politics but also positioned himself as an outspoken adversary of liberal democracy in the US. Dubbed the “Troll-in-chief,” he has transformed into a political provocateur. The article suggests that while Donald Trump remains arguably the greatest threat to global freedom today, Musk is at least considered public enemy number two. It likens this situation to Adolf Hitler’s rise, facilitated significantly by German industrialists’ backing.
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During a town hall meeting with American voters in Pennsylvania, Musk responded to the accusation. “Enemy No. 2 of what? Democracy?” he questioned, adding passionately, “I’m pro-democracy. My aim is to uphold the Constitution and ensure we have free and fair elections.” His remarks drew cheers from the crowd.
The billionaire mentioned that he would “absolutely enhance… my security” following the article, expressing surprise at times over actions from the left. He remarked on “the intense hostility from the left, which is supposed to be accepting. They profess tolerance yet often display remarkable intolerance and hatred.”
Musk, who identifies as a “free speech absolutist,” endorsed Trump following the unsuccessful assassination attempt on the former president in July. Since then, he has contributed tens of millions of dollars to Trump’s campaign. Musk has consistently voiced concerns about what he perceives as growing censorship in the US and an overbearing bureaucracy that hinders meaningful progress.
In the interim, Trump has pledged to establish a commission led by Musk to audit the entire federal government for efficiency if he is re-elected.
