Musk praises promising Ramaswamy after call to reduce Israel's aid

Elon Musk endorses Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's call to reduce aid to Israel, sparking controversy and boosting Ramaswamy's popularity.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, attended the Viva Technology conference in Paris, France on June 16, 2023. During the conference, Musk made headlines by referring to Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy as a "promising candidate." This endorsement came after Ramaswamy called for a reduction in aid given to Israel by the United States.

Musk's endorsement of Ramaswamy came in response to a post shared by former FOX News presenter Tucker Carlson. Carlson had shared a clip from an interview conducted with Ramaswamy and praised him as the youngest Republican presidential candidate ever, stating that he is worth listening to.

In the interview, which took place on the platform Rumble, Ramaswamy argued that Israel should not receive more aid than its Middle Eastern neighbors after 2028, when the current US aid package of $38 billion expires. He proposed expanding the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals between Israel and Arab countries, and suggested that once Israel is more integrated with its neighboring countries, it should be able to financially support itself.

Ramaswamy's stance on Israel has gained him support from both Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson, and he has seen a rise in popularity in recent polls. According to a Fox News survey, 11% of respondents now support him, putting him close behind Ron DeSantis, who has 16% support, and Donald Trump, who leads with 53% support.

It is worth noting that Elon Musk has faced controversies related to antisemitism. Just this week, he was called out by the Auschwitz Memorial for an antisemitic message on X. The memorial reported the message, but received a response from X stating that it did not violate the platform's rules. Musk has described himself as a free-speech absolutist, but critics argue that his approach is irresponsible.

Researchers have observed an increase in hate speech and antisemitic content on X since Musk took over, leading to accusations that the company is not doing enough to moderate its content. This has raised concerns about the platform's role in spreading harmful and discriminatory messages.

In conclusion, Elon Musk's endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy and his controversial stance on Israel have sparked discussions and debates. Additionally, Musk's involvement with X and its handling of antisemitic content has drawn criticism and calls for better moderation. These issues highlight the complexities and challenges surrounding free speech, political endorsements, and responsible platform management.