Elon Musk breaks silence on global 'Hands Off!' protests slamming organizers as 'puppet masters'

 Tech billionaire Elon Musk dismissed the wave of “Hands Off!” protests held across the U.S. on Sunday, accusing demonstrators of being manipulated by unseen political operatives.

“The problem is the puppet masters, not the puppets, as the latter have no idea why they are even there,” Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, in his first public comment since hundreds of thousands took part in coordinated rallies targeting both Musk and former President Donald Trump.

The protests, which unfolded in all 50 states and major cities including Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, were billed by organizers as a stand against government overreach and billionaire influence on democracy. Musk and Trump were directly named in chants and signs throughout the day.

In a reposted video shared by conservative account @WallStreetApes, conservative commentator Laura Loomer alleged that demonstrators were “paid protesters,” pointing to footage of individuals receiving pre-printed signs and being bused to locations. Musk’s quote post appeared to endorse that claim.

If you cannot view this video, please click here.

He reposted another video and picture thread asserting that the demonstrations were staged and the D.C. protestors were paid to create an appearance of defiance. The caption read: "The anti-Elon, anti-DOGE, anti-Trump protests in D.C.? They aren’t grassroots. They are payroll-driven theater."

Critics blasted Musk’s response as dismissive of genuine grassroots frustrations, while supporters echoed his sentiment, accusing progressive groups of astroturfing dissent.

Nearly 200 groups organized "Hands Off" protests in more than 1,000 locations across the U.S. and around the globe Saturday, marking the largest day of collective action since Trump was inaugurated for a second time.

"The protests aimed to put a stop to the most brazen power grab in modern history," organizers said. Millions - from Los Angeles to London - marched to advocate for civil rights, healthcare, democracy, workers' rights and LGBTQ+ rights that have been under "assault" by the Trump administration and GOP Congress members, they added.

Since Musk's joint government takeover with Trump, citizens have unleashed their fury on him by vandalizing Tesla storefronts and vehicles. Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism in the US and abroad.

His Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been implementing significant reductions in the federal government through layoffs, contract cancellations, and other measures.

Activists have organized nationwide protests against either Trump or Musk several times since the new administration came into power. However, the opposition movement has yet to gain a mass mobilization comparable to the Women's March in 2017, following Trump's first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter protests that broke out in various cities after George Floyd died in 2020.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rodrygo Wants to Stay at Real Madrid After Interest from Other Clubs

Image
  Real Madrid forward Rodrygo said he is grateful for the interest from other clubs but wants to stay with the LaLiga side for many years to come. Rodrygo has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 31 games for Real across all competitions this season and the 24-year-old Brazilian was reportedly the recipient of lucrative mid-season offers from other clubs. "The terms of the offers, that's more of my father's job, who is my agent, and the club. I do not know much about the details. I am very grateful that there is interest from other clubs," Rodrygo told reporters on Monday. "I am really happy here. I have been here for a long time. I always say, playing with this shirt in the Champions League is most special." Rodrygo's current deal with Real runs until 2028. Germany ($295.7 million), Italy ($223.8 million), France ($209.7 million) and Saudi Arabia ($202.1 million) completed the list of the top five countries for their clubs' January spendin...
Read more

Pakistani fans troll BCCI after floodlight failure halts IND vs ENG match

Image
 The second ODI between India and England faced a floodlight failure in Cuttack, prompting Pakistani fans to mock Indian social media users who had previously criticised Gaddafi Stadium's lighting. During the ODI, India was chasing a target of 305 runs and had scored 48 without loss in 6.1 overs when one of the floodlight towers malfunctioned. After the first ball of the seventh over, the lights went off again, plunging the field into darkness. Play was halted, and players were seen waiting on the field before retreating to the dugout. The match was delayed for approximately 18-20 minutes before play resumed. The cause of the lighting issue is still unclear, and the disruption quickly became a topic of discussion on social media. Pakistani fans, who had previously been criticised by Indians for the lighting situation at Gaddafi Stadium, took to social media to mock the incident, drawing attention to the irony. Some Indian users also expressed frustration, criticizing the Board of ...
Read more

North Korea Issues Nuclear Threat To United State

Image
  North Korea has issued a threat to the U.S., saying it will "counter the enemies' strategic threat with our strategic means." The threat was made in a press statement issued by the chief of the Information Office at the DPRK Ministry of National Defense on Friday. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of Defense, via email, for comment. Why It Matters Pyongyang has long cited defense cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea, including joint exercises, as a destabilizing force that justifies its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Washington and Seoul have formed an alliance under a mutual defense treaty and 28,500 U.S. military personnel are stationed in South Korea to deter aggression from North Korea. The allies have frequently conducted combined military exercises. What To Know North Korea said "the U.S. and its vassal forces are getting evermore pronounced in their military provocations," citing the presence of a B-1B strategic bomber over th...
Read more