Elon Musk questions Trump assassination attempts in deleted post

Elon Musk faced backlash after posting a tweet stating, "no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala" in response to a question about threats against Donald Trump. This tweet came shortly after a man was arrested for allegedly planning to assassinate Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach. The White House condemned Musk's comments, labeling them as irresponsible and emphasizing that violence should never be encouraged or joked about. They asserted that there should be no tolerance for political violence in the country. The Secret Service acknowledged awareness of Musk's post, stating that they investigate all threats related to their protectees, although they did not confirm if they had contacted Musk directly. Critics from both sides of the political spectrum expressed concern that Musk's words could incite violence against Biden and Harris, especially given his large following on the social media platform he owns. Musk later deleted the tweet and attempted to clarify his intentions, suggesting that his comment was meant as a joke. He reflected on the misunderstanding, noting that humor can be lost in plain text without context. This incident highlights the potential consequences of public figures making light of serious topics, particularly in a politically charged environment. In the wake of the incident, both Biden and Harris expressed relief that Trump had not been harmed, underscoring the seriousness of threats against political figures. The situation raises questions about the responsibilities of influential individuals in their public communications and the impact of their words on societal discourse.