The US Secret Service is currently monitoring a now-deleted social media post by Elon Musk, in which he speculated on the absence of assassination attempts against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Musk’s comment, made on his platform X (formerly Twitter), followed the arrest of a man suspected of plotting an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and a vocal supporter of Trump, posted on Sunday: “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” followed by an eyebrow-raising emoji.
The post was met with backlash from across the political spectrum, with users criticizing the billionaire for what they saw as a dangerous and irresponsible comment.
In response to the online reaction, Musk quickly deleted the post. The Secret Service, responsible for protecting current and former political leaders, confirmed its awareness of the situation.
While a spokesperson did not confirm if they had contacted Musk directly, they stated, “The Secret Service investigates all threats related to our protectees.”
Musk later clarified his intent, suggesting that his comment was meant as a joke.
In a follow-up post, he admitted, “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. Turns out that jokes are way less funny if people don’t know the context.”
The White House also weighed in on the controversy, condemning Musk’s post. “Violence should never be joked about or encouraged,” said Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson, labeling Musk’s rhetoric “irresponsible.”
Musk’s comment came shortly after the arrest of a man accused of plotting to kill Trump, raising further concerns about political violence in the US Harris and Biden both issued statements condemning political violence and expressing relief that Trump had not been harmed in the incident.
Musk has frequently posted comments critical of Biden and Harris, while voicing his support for Trump.
The tech mogul has a close relationship with Trump, who has suggested Musk would have a role in his administration should he win a second term.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Musk’s influence remains significant due to his ownership of X and his large following.
However, his recent remarks are a reminder of the fine line public figures walk when making comments that can be interpreted as promoting violence or instability.
