KEYTAKEAWAYS
- Elon Musk agrees to fight Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after social media dispute.
- Conflict escalates amid controversial remarks and electoral tensions in Venezuela.
CONTENT
Tech mogul agrees to face off against 61-year-old Nicolas Maduro following heated social media exchange. Musk suggests Maduro’s presidency as stakes, while offering “free ride to Mars” if he loses.
In an unexpected turn of events, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has accepted a challenge to fight Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, adding another chapter to the ongoing saga of high-profile figures engaging in public disputes via social media.
>> Also read: Elon Musk Reignites Cage Match Challenge to Mark Zuckerberg
The conflict ignited on July 31 when Musk posted provocative remarks on X.com, suggesting he was “coming for” Maduro and would “carry” him “to Gitmo on a donkey.” This statement was interpreted by many as a reference to the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Musk’s comments appeared to be in response to a video clip shared on X.com, which falsely implied that Maduro had directly called out Musk. A community note quickly clarified that Maduro had made no such mention. The poster, right-wing commentator Ian Miles Cheong, later claimed his comments were meant as a joke.
In subsequent posts, Musk labeled Maduro a “dictator” and retweeted calls from Argentine President Javier Milei for Maduro to resign amid Venezuelan electoral controversies. Maduro retaliated by referring to Musk as “the representation of the fascist ideology” and warned that “whoever gets involved with me dries out.”
The situation escalated when Maduro challenged Musk to a fight, stating, “I’m not afraid of you, Elon Musk. Let’s fight, wherever you want.” Musk promptly agreed on X, adding that Maduro would likely “chicken out.”
This is real pic.twitter.com/3KjTZiVJG0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 30, 2024
This development follows Musk’s previous, unfulfilled fight agreement with Mark Zuckerberg in June 2023. That proposed bout was eventually postponed due to Musk’s alleged need for surgery.
Musk suggested that if he wins, Maduro should resign from the presidency. In turn, if Maduro emerges victorious, Musk offered him a “free ride to Mars.” The seriousness of these proposed terms remains unclear.
As this social media spectacle unfolds, Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, continues to report strong financial performance. In contrast, X.com, under Musk’s leadership, is reportedly struggling to break even, according to leaked documents.
>> Also read: Elon Musk and Tech Billionaires: Pro-Trump? A Compilation of Their Tweets
