In a media landscape often criticized for its self-censorship and political correctness, Elon Musk, the maverick entrepreneur, recently made bold statements sure to spark widespread conversations about freedom of thought and expression. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of Twitter, affirmed his commitment to free speech and shrugged off potential financial repercussions for his forthright remarks, likening himself to Inigo Montoya, a character from the 1987 film “The Princess Bride.”
During an interview with CNBC’s David Faber, Musk deflected accusations of anti-Semitism stemming from his remarks about leftist globalist billionaire George Soros. In a series of tweets posted Monday, Musk likened Soros to Magneto, the infamous X-Men villain, alleging that Soros wants to “erode the very fabric of civilization” and “hates humanity.” Faber questioned Musk’s decision to disseminate his views publicly, given the potential to alienate Tesla customers and Twitter advertisers.
You assume they are good intentions. They are not. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 16, 2023
In response, Musk invoked a scene from “The Princess Bride” where Inigo Montoya, having defeated his father’s killer, indifferently rejects offers of money and power. Musk conveyed a similar sentiment: “Offer me money. Offer me power. I don’t care.” He made clear his intention to continue speaking his mind, regardless of potential financial consequences.
Some men just cannot be bought.
Much respect @elonmuskREPORTER: "Elon, you tweeted this thing about George Soros…"
MUSK: "I'm reminded of a scene in 'The Princess Bride' — great movie — where he confronts the person who killed his father. And he says, 'offer me money,… pic.twitter.com/8uKL4pqgWr
— ₱₳₮Ɽł₵₭ ⱧɆ₦ⱤɎ 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@PatrickHeneryz) May 17, 2023
Good morning this is the scene in the Princess Bride that Elon was talking about when he defended his tweets (based)
My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. pic.twitter.com/pangABc5FK
— Maxwell Meyer (@mualphaxi) May 17, 2023
According to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Musk’s critique of Soros came as the latter significantly decreased his shares in Tesla. The business tycoon’s Soros Fund Management also slashed holdings in Rivian Automotive, another electric car manufacturer, following a 90% decline in its stock.
While the reason for Musk’s criticism remains unclear, his comments sparked a flurry of reactions. Online journalist Brian Krassenstein defended Soros, highlighting the latter’s Holocaust survival. However, Musk rebutted, questioning the assumption of Soros’s “good intentions.”
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt accused Musk of promoting “far-right” “antisemitic tropes.” Yet, it’s noteworthy that while likening Soros to a villain, Musk did not reference Soros’s Jewish heritage, focusing instead on his perceived efforts to undermine civilization and his alleged disdain for humanity.
Musk’s tweets gathered significant support despite the backlash, with his post likening Soros to Magneto amassing over 250,000 likes. Musk’s bold stance on free speech and his critique of Soros reflects his refusal to bow to societal pressures or risk financial fallout for expressing his views.
In today’s polarized political climate, where the freedom to express differing viewpoints is increasingly under threat, Musk’s defense of free speech stands as a fresh reminder of the First Amendment’s importance. Moreover, his daring to challenge Soros, a powerful figure often shielded from criticism, demonstrates a fearlessness that resonates with mainstream Americans.
