Businessman Elon Musk, owner of the social network X (formerly Twitter), published a photo collage with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on his page on October 2.
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He (or the nameless author of the collage) accompanied a photograph of Zelensky with a tense expression on his face with the caption:
When five minutes have passed and you still haven’t asked for a billion dollars in help.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2023
Musk’s post received more than 34 thousand comments in the first few hours after its publication. Most of them are judgmental. Users write about the need to support the warring Ukraine and remind Musk that military aid packages are investments in the American military-industrial complex, that is, in the US economy.
They also publish collages: Musk in the uniform of the Russian army, Musk in the form of a dog on a leash with Russian President Putin, and the same portrait of Musk, but with the caption: “When five minutes have passed and you still haven’t said a single thing.”
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the same social network X published a similar collage with Musk’s face and the caption:
When you have not been spreading Russian propaganda for five minutes (this post has now been deleted – it is unknown whether it was on the initiative of the Council or the social network administrators).
The BBC called Musk’s meme “bordering on insulting.” Ukrainian publicist Mikhail Tkach addressed Musk with an open letter “Saving the world is not a business.”
Let us remember that Musk consistently advocates reducing US and NATO military assistance in Ukraine and for resolving the conflict through negotiations. A year ago, he proposed his own plan for resolving the war, according to which new referendums should be held in the territories occupied by Russia, and Ukraine should maintain a neutral status.
In September, the European Commission published a report alleging that Musk’s actions as Chief Executive X are helping to spread Russian propaganda.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.