Maduro accuses Musk of orchestrating attacks against Venezuela.
New Delhi:
Billionaire Elon Musk has accepted a challenge to fight Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on national television. The SpaceX and Tesla boss, and the owner of social network X, responded to Maduro's challenge on his platform. “I accept,” he tweeted, prompting a flurry of responses online.
The animosity between Musk and Maduro has been simmering for some time amid political unrest in Caracas. Maduro, whose victory in recent elections was widely disputed, has found an enemy in Musk, a fervent ultra-capitalist and supporter of Donald Trump. The ideological clash pits billionaire Musk against Maduro, a socialist leader who rose from humble beginnings as a bus driver to lead the oil-rich but economically struggling nation.
Maduro has accused Musk of orchestrating attacks on Venezuela, claiming the tech mogul was behind an alleged “computer hacking” of the National Electoral Council (CNE). The CNE controversially declared Maduro the winner of the final vote without providing detailed data, a move that has led to accusations of foul play.
After Musk's public remarks against him, Maduro responded by saying: “Social media is creating a virtual reality, and who controls the virtual reality? Our new arch-enemy, the famous Elon Musk,” he began his speech. Do you want to fight? Let's do it. Elon Musk, I'm ready,” Maduro said. I'm not afraid of you Elon Musk. Let's fight, wherever you want.”
Musk took to X and responded to many people who commented on the development. In one post, Musk called Maduro a “big boy,” while taking a sly dig at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg by calling him a “little guy.”
“Maduro is a big guy himself and probably knows how to fight so this would be a real fight. Zuck is a little guy so that would be a short fight lol,” he posted.
Maduro is a big guy himself and he can probably fight, so this would be a real fight.
Zuck is a little guy, so that would be a short fight, haha.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024
“If I win, he will step down as dictator of Venezuela. If he wins, I will give him a free ride to Mars,” Musk wagered.
If I win, he will step down as dictator of Venezuela.
If he wins, I'll give him a free ride to Mars.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024
Following the Venezuelan election results, Musk voiced his disapproval, calling Maduro a “dictator” and describing the election as a “travesty.” He even posted a 2020 announcement from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about criminal drug trafficking charges against Maduro, including a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Maduro's response was fiery. “He wants to come here with his weapons and an army to invade Venezuela. Elon Musk, good for you for showing your face, because we knew you were behind it! With your money and your satellites,” Maduro claimed.
Musk's response was sharp and in Spanish: “A donkey knows more than Maduro.” He later apologized, albeit sarcastically, adding: “I'm sorry I compared the poor donkey to Maduro. That was an insult to the animal kingdom.”
