Elon Musk Sparks Outrage After Endorsing Antisemitic Social Media Post

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has been embroiled in controversy this week after endorsing an antisemitic social media post. On Wednesday, a user shared footage of a PSA created by the Foundation To Combat Antisemitism, which shows a father confronting his teenage son for posting a neo-Nazi message online. In response, a second user then accused Jewish communities of “pushing the exact kind of dialectical nonsense” that led to the Holocaust. Musk then replied, “You have said the actual truth.”

The comment has since sparked outrage from Jewish leaders and at least one advertiser, who have condemned Musk for echoing anti-Jewish bigotry. The incident is the latest in a pattern of similar behavior from Musk, who has been feuding with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for months over its criticism of his 2022 acquisition of X (then known as Twitter).

The ADL has since called on Musk to “unequivocally condemn” the antisemitic conspiracy theory he endorsed, and to “take responsibility for the impact of his words and the normalization of hate speech.” In response, Musk has yet to comment on the incident.

The incident has also sparked a larger discussion about the role of tech giants in combating hate speech online. Many have pointed to Musk’s acquisition of X as a major factor in the rise of hate speech on the platform, as the acquisition included major cuts to content moderation around hate speech.

The incident has raised questions about the responsibility of tech giants to combat hate speech and the role of social media in promoting bigotry. As the debate continues, many are calling on Musk to take responsibility for his words and to unequivocally condemn the antisemitic conspiracy theory he endorsed.