Elon Musk has once again landed himself in controversy, this time for sharing a post that appeared to downplay the role of infamous dictators in the deaths of millions.
Credit: Jared Siskin / Getty
The billionaire, who remains highly active on Twitter (now X), retweeted a message suggesting that Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong were not directly responsible for the mass killings under their regimes.
The post read: “Stalin, Mao, and Hitler didn’t murder millions of people. Their public sector workers did.”
Outrage on Social Media
Musk’s decision to amplify the message sparked immediate backlash, with many condemning him for what they saw as an attempt to shift blame away from the leaders behind some of history’s most devastating atrocities.
One Twitter user wrote, “Is this the—seriously disturbed and flawed—reasoning why Elon thinks Hitler is so cool? Sieg Heil, Elon—enjoy your burning swasticars…”
Another added, “Elon Musk is a disgusting POS. I hate him & I hope he starts receiving what he deserves.”
A third person commented, “On. Their. Orders. These men were dictators. They ORDERED massacres. You can add Putin to that list.”
Credit: Jared Siskin / Getty
Union Leader Slams Musk
Musk’s tweet also drew criticism from prominent figures, including Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Saunders responded directly on X, saying, “America’s public service workers—our nurses, teachers, firefighters, librarians—chose making our communities safe, healthy, and strong over getting rich. They are not, as the world’s richest man implies, genocidal murderers.”
He continued, “Elon Musk and the billionaires in this administration have no idea what real people go through every day. That’s why he’s so willing to take a chainsaw to people’s jobs, Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare.”
Previous Controversies
This latest controversy follows previous accusations that Musk made a Nazi salute during Donald Trump’s inauguration. In response to those claims, Musk posted a series of jokes and puns referencing Nazi leaders, which only fueled further criticism.
Musk has not yet addressed the backlash over his retweet. However, given his history of engaging with critics online, many are expecting him to weigh in sooner rather than later.
