The U.S. Secret Service has confirmed its awareness of a controversial social media post by Elon Musk regarding President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. This development comes just one day after the arrest of an individual suspected of planning to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach.
Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter) and CEO of Tesla, posted a comment on September 15, 2024, that raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. The billionaire entrepreneur wrote, "And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala," accompanied by an emoji with a raised eyebrow. This post, directed at Musk's nearly 200 million followers, quickly drew criticism from users concerned about its potential to incite violence against the current administration.
The Secret Service, established in 1865 to combat currency counterfeiting, has evolved to become the primary agency responsible for protecting U.S. leaders. A spokesperson for the agency stated, "The Secret Service is aware of the social media post made by Elon Musk and as a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters involving protective intelligence." The spokesperson added, "We can say, however, that the Secret Service investigates all threats related to our protectees."
It's worth noting that the Secret Service has a long history of protecting U.S. presidents, beginning with full-time protection after William McKinley's assassination in 1901. Today, the agency employs approximately 7,000 individuals and maintains a zero-failure mission in safeguarding its assigned protectees.
Following the backlash, Musk deleted the post and attempted to explain his intentions in subsequent messages. He wrote, "Well, one lesson I've learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn't mean it's going to be all that hilarious as a post on X. Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don't know the context and the delivery is plain text."
This incident highlights the complex relationship between social media, public figures, and national security. Musk, who acquired Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in October 2022, has faced scrutiny for his management of the platform, which boasts approximately 396.5 million active users worldwide.
In response to the situation involving former President Trump, both President Biden and Vice President Harris issued statements expressing relief that no harm had come to their political rival. This bipartisan show of concern underscores the seriousness with which threats against public officials are treated, regardless of political affiliation.
As the 2024 election approaches, the Secret Service remains vigilant in its mission to protect current and former leaders. The agency, which began protecting presidents full-time in 1894 during Grover Cleveland's tenure, continues to adapt to evolving threats in the digital age, including cybercrime and identity theft.
"The Secret Service is aware of the social media post made by Elon Musk and as a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters involving protective intelligence. We can say, however, that the Secret Service investigates all threats related to our protectees."
This incident serves as a reminder of the power and responsibility that come with a large social media following, especially for influential figures like Musk, whose net worth once peaked at $338 billion in November 2021. As the founder of companies such as SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, in addition to his roles at Tesla and X, Musk's words carry significant weight in the public sphere.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact discussions around social media responsibility, public safety, and the delicate balance between free speech and potential security threats in the digital age.