Musk calls MAGA element "contemptible fools" as virtual civil war brews
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Elon Musk at a Trump rally in a MAGA hat. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Elon Musk condemned a segment of the MAGA movement as "contemptible fools" who should be purged from the Republican Party in a social media post Friday.
Why it matters: A virtual right-wing civil war has broken out over race, class, immigration and the future of President-elect Trump's movement, and Musk is increasingly at odds with Trump's historic base.
- The schism may force Trump to ultimately take sides between the largely white, working-class supporters who first made MAGA succeed, and the techno-libertarian billionaires like Musk who are at the center of his new administration.
Catch up quick: On Thursday, Musk ally and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy posted a lengthy condemnation of American culture and its supposed embrace of mediocrity.
- Musk spent the next 24 hours defending Ramaswamy and advancing his argument that America needs highly skilled immigrants to fill high-tech jobs.
- That argument landed with a thud in the MAGA wing that wants to stop immigration and preserve jobs for American workers.
Zoom in: On Friday, cartoonist and right-wing commentator Scott Adams posted on X that MAGA was "taking a page from Democrats on how to lose elections while feeling good about themselves."
- Musk agreed, and took it a step further.
- "And those contemptible fools must be removed from the Republican Party, root and stem," he posted.
What they're saying: For people used to being called "deplorables" by Democrats, the condemnation from one of the most important advisors in Trump's inner circle stoked instant outrage.
- "Calling people who have their country's best interests at heart and wanting to NOT sell out the American people 'contemptible fools' is the biggest L that I've seen Elon make in a long time. Dude needs to relax," gaming streamer Hooks posted.
- Right-wing activist Laura Loomer tagged Trump in her message. "The Trump base is being replaced by Big Tech executives. So sad to see this. I feel so sad for MAGA," she said. Loomer has alleged Musk was censoring her for her opposition to his immigration comments.
- Andrew Torba, the CEO of the far-right social network Gab, said in an X post: "He's declaring war on us btw. Should go over well for him as it has for everyone else who has tried."
Go deeper: MAGA vs. Musk: Right-wing critics allege censorship, loss of X badges
