Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has joined a growing list of international leaders with whom billionaire Elon Musk has engaged in a dispute.
After the results of Venezuela’s presidential election were announced, with both Maduro and his opponents declaring themselves winners, the owner of X used the social network to accuse the self-proclaimed socialist leader of “massive electoral fraud.”
“Shame on dictator Maduro,” Musk said Monday.
In response to those comments, Maduro lashed out at Musk, saying he was an “archenemy of peace in Venezuela.”
President Nicolas Maduro dances in front of the Miraflores presidential palace after electoral authorities declared him the winner of the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024.
(Fernando Vergara/AP)
Officials were slow to release detailed results of Sunday’s election after declaring Maduro the winner with 51 percent of the vote, to 44 percent for retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez.
After failing to oust Maduro during three rounds of protests since 2014, the opposition has turned its faith to the ballot box. The election was among the most peaceful in recent times, reflecting hopes that Venezuela can avoid bloodshed and end 25 years of one-party rule.
People protest the official election results that declared President Nicolas Maduro the winner of the presidential election, the day after voting in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
(Fernando Vergara/AP)
Musk also shared the post on X by his “friend,” Argentine President Javier Milei. “The data announces a crushing victory for the opposition and the world is waiting for him to recognize defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death,” said Milei.
Maduro quickly responded to Musk’s posts, claiming the billionaire is a threat to Venezuela.
“It is the representation of fascist ideology… unnatural, anti-society,” said Maduro.
“Elon Musk is desperate… control yourself,” he warned. “Whoever messes with me dries up.”
Residents bang pots and pans to protest the day after presidential elections in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 29, 2024.
(Cristian Hernandez/AP)
This is not Musk’s first confrontation with foreign government officials. A few months ago, the self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” clashed with a Brazilian Supreme Court judge over freedom of speech, far-right user accounts and alleged false information on X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk bought Twitter in 2022, scrapped many of the social network’s policies and fired most of its employees.
Regarding the Venezuelan elections, leaders around the world expressed concerns about the results, with many calling for transparency in the vote count.
