The US Secret Service has acknowledged a social media post by Elon Musk where he claimed that “no one is even trying” to assassinate President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris. Musk has since removed the post, stating it was meant as a joke.
This remark was made shortly after an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at his Florida golf course. Musk, a close ally of Trump, has supported him and mentioned plans to run a “government efficiency commission” if Trump wins re-election.
Many users criticized Musk’s comments, which included a raised eyebrow emoji, suggesting it might incite violence against Biden and Harris. The White House condemned the post, calling it “irresponsible” and asserting that violence should never be encouraged or joked about.
The Secret Service stated it is aware of the post but does not comment on protective intelligence matters. They emphasized that they investigate all threats to their protectees.
Musk later acknowledged that his joke might not have been received well in written form, noting that humor doesn’t always translate well in text.
He has frequently supported Trump and criticized Biden and Harris, especially following a previous assassination attempt on Trump in July.
