Twitter CEO Elon Musk fired back at former President Donald Trump over the weekend after the former president suggested terminating parts of the U.S. Constitution in response to the release of the initial installment of “The Twitter Files” late last week.
Musk released internal company documents through journalist Matt Taibbi about the company’s censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 presidential election that showed top officials at the company were in regular contact with Democrats and censored content that Democrats wanted removed from the platform.
The former president responded in a series of posts on social media, with one in particular igniting widespread backlash from across the political spectrum.
“So, with the revelation of MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION in working closely with Big Tech Companies, the DNC, & the Democrat Party, do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION?” Trump wrote.
“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” Trump declared. “Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!”
Musk responded on Twitter to Trump’s post: “The Constitution is greater than any President. End of story.”
Musk’s tweet came in response to a story about the White House calling for Trump’s comments to be “universally condemned.”
Musk stated earlier this year that it was time for America to put a fresh face in the White House in 2024.
“I don’t hate the man, but it’s time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset,” Musk tweeted. “Dems should also call off the attack – don’t make it so that Trump’s only way to survive is to regain the Presidency.”
When someone advocated for a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024, Musk responded, “Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America.”
“If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win – he doesn’t even need to campaign,” Musk continued.
Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America.
If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win – he doesn’t even need to campaign.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2022
“Do we really want a bull in a china shop situation every single day!?” Musk said. “Also, I think the legal maximum age for start of Presidential term should be 69.”
Despite not being a fan of the former president, Musk did reinstate his Twitter account late last month.
“I’m fine with Trump not tweeting. The important thing is that Twitter correct a grave mistake in banning his account, despite no violation of the law or terms of service,” Musk tweeted. “Deplatforming a sitting President undermined public trust in Twitter for half of America.”
“As a reminder, I was a significant supporter of the Obama-Biden presidency and (reluctantly) voted for Biden over Trump,” he added. “But freedom of speech is the bedrock of a strong democracy and must take precedence. My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would [be] the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far.”
When asked if he would support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for president, Musk replied, “Yes.”
But freedom of speech is the bedrock of a strong democracy and must take precedence.
My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 26, 2022