By Charles Switzer
9:23am PST, Jan 23, 2025
From MAGA Allies to Global Critics
Once admired across political divides,
Elon Musk is now facing backlash from the MAGA movement and international figures alike.
From controversial gestures at public events to disputes with conservative leaders, the one-time "First Buddy's" recent actions have ignited a storm of criticism.
As tensions escalate, the fallout impacts his reputation in both political and business circles, raising questions about the future of his influence with President
Donald Trump, and calling into question his beliefs about the American workforce.
Here's how the fall of Musk is unfolding at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave — just three days into the new administration.
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Controversial Gesture at Trump's Inauguration
During President Trump's
inauguration, Musk made a hand gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi salute.
This act drew widespread condemnation, including from Scottish First Minister
Humza Yousaf, who stated that the gesture was indicative of Musk's "far-right and Islamophobic beliefs."
Musk dismissed these allegations
on X, referring to them as a "salute hoax" and labeling the criticisms as "tired attempts to smear him."
Backlash from Tech Community and Social Media Platforms
In response to Musk's controversial gesture, several online communities took action.
Dozens of popular subreddits, including r/formula1, r/military and r/nintendo, banned links to X, the platform owned by Musk and renamed from Twitter.
Many claim this decision was influenced by Musk's movement on stage and his perceived alignment with "far-right" ideologies among his
many scandals. These subreddits, representing millions of users, now only allow screenshots of X content to limit the spread of material from the platform.
Political Disputes With MAGA Leadership
Musk's criticism of Trump's $500 billion dollar
AI infrastructure project further strained his relationship with the MAGA movement. Former Trump strategist
Steve Bannon accused Musk of harboring a personal vendetta, urging the White House to address the situation.
This incident highlights the growing rift between Musk and key figures within the conservative establishment primarily revolving around the world's richest man's wish to bring in skilled tech workers from India to help build AI into everyday society.
"For an admin currently orchestrating a migrant exodus, how do you think, and indeed, how do you think the American workforce, feels about bringing Indians in for work here?" a political analyst asked.
"He is a truly evil person. His sole objective is to become a trillionaire. He will do anything related to make sure that his companies are protected," Bannon told an outlet.
Cultural Repercussions and Public Perception
"Quite frankly, the people around Trump are tired of it. We've seen peak Elon, his intrusive nature his lack of understanding of the true issues," said Bannon. "Before, because of all the money he put in, I was prepared to tolerate it: not any longer. His half-baked ideas are really about the implementation of techno-feudalism on a global scale."
The controversy surrounding Musk has permeated popular culture. During a concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, the band
Green Day dedicated their song "American Idiot" to Musk, altering the lyrics to critique his actions.
International Criticism and Political Implications
Musk's actions have not only attracted domestic criticism but have also raised concerns internationally. Politicians and public figures abroad have condemned his gestures and statements, viewing them as indicative of a troubling alignment with extremist ideologies.
This global backlash suggests that Musk's influence extends beyond the business realm, "affecting international political discourse."
"Like we saw with
Vivek Ramaswamy, MAGA will eat its own in a heartbeat to maintain the status quo within their base," the analyst explained. "Do one wrong thing, even if you have all the money in the world, and you are thrown into the lion pit with no weapon while they watch you get torn apart."
