Elon Musk has boldly claimed that he’s “never done anything harmful” in his life – a statement that’s raising more than a few eyebrows.
Speaking to Fox News, Musk said he was “shocked” by the “hatred and violence from the left” since becoming what many see as an unelected member of Trump’s cabinet.
Referring to reports of arson attacks on Tesla vehicles in the US, Musk said:
“I always thought Democrats were the party of empathy and caring. But they’re burning down cars, firebombing dealerships, and shooting up Teslas.”
He added:
“Tesla is a peaceful company. It’s never done anything harmful – I’ve never done anything harmful. I’ve only done productive things.”
Musk then suggested that there are “larger forces at work” behind the protests, asking:
“Who’s funding it, who’s coordinating it?”
Cutting aid and causing deaths
Many were quick to challenge Musk’s claim, especially considering the fallout from one of his earliest government decisions.
After being handed control of government efficiency, Musk shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had been providing crucial aid to some of the world’s poorest countries. Musk called the department a “ball of worms” and scrapped it entirely.
A recent New York Times report found that this move directly impacted health programmes in Africa, especially AIDS treatment in countries like South Sudan. The report estimated that as many as 1.65 million people could die without American foreign aid for HIV prevention and treatment.
Political controversies and far-right support
Musk’s controversial track record doesn’t stop there.
He has publicly backed far-right political parties, including Germany’s AfD. He also voiced support for the release of convicted far-right activist Tommy Robinson and has been accused of fuelling violent riots in the UK.
Musk also faced backlash for a social media attack on Labour MP Jess Phillips, which was widely condemned as vile and inflammatory.
‘Never done anything harmful’?
Given all of this, Musk’s claim that he’s “never done anything harmful” isn’t landing well. Many are pointing out that the damage caused by his decisions speaks for itself.
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