The White House has sharply criticized Elon Musk, accusing him of promoting anti-Semitic and racist hatred. This controversy stems from Musk’s response on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to a message claiming that Jewish people promote “hatred against Whites.” Musk’s reply, “You are speaking the absolute truth,” has sparked significant backlash.

Conspiracy Theories and Anti-Semitism

This incident has dredged up dangerous conspiracy theories. The White House points out that Musk’s endorsement echoes a theory popular among white nationalists, which falsely claims that Jewish people secretly promote illegal immigration in Western countries to undermine the white majority. This nefarious theory was notably echoed by the perpetrator of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack, which resulted in 11 deaths. Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson, stated, “Repeating this vile lie, which inspired the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in U.S. history, is unacceptable.”

Response from Elon Musk

In a follow-up statement, Musk criticized the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent anti-Semitism fighting organization, alleging that they unjustly attacked the majority of the West, despite Western support for Jewish people and Israel. He claimed, without evidence, that the ADL cannot criticize minority groups that he believes are the primary threat to Jewish people.

Increased Disinformation and Hate Speech Concerns

Since Musk took over the reins of the social network, there has been a noticeable increase in disinformation and hateful rhetoric, as per various observers including the European Commission. The ADL itself has been vocal in criticizing the rise in misinformation and homophobic and racist remarks under Musk’s leadership. In early September, Musk accused the ADL of being responsible for a significant portion of X’s revenue loss.

Musk’s Controversial Leadership

This is not the first time Musk has been in the spotlight for controversial reasons. Since acquiring the social media platform over a year ago, he has relaxed moderation rules, leading to increased scrutiny and criticism from various quarters, including top EU officials. His latest remarks and the ensuing backlash from the White House highlighted the growing concerns over his influence on public discourse and the spread of harmful ideologies.