- Twitter says it ‘did not take enforcement action’ on the post.
- American Jewish Committee criticizes Tesla CEO’s judgment
On Wednesday, Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and founder, published a meme comparing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler. “Stop comparing me to Justin Trudeau…,” said the now-deleted tweet, which included a photo of Hitler and the words “Stop comparing me to Justin Trudeau…” “I had a budget plan.”
The debate comes amid a situation involving convoys of Canadian truck drivers who are blocking major highways (and thus trade routes) in protest of the country’s strict vaccination and mask-wearing requirements. Late last month, a concerted operation of “Freedom Convoys” began forming in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, Ontario.
Trudeau declared a national emergency earlier this week in an attempt to put an end to the protests, the first time the 1988 Emergency Act has been used. To restore public order, the act allows the government to use measures such as travel restrictions and public assembly bans.
Musk did not apologise for distributing false information regarding the pandemic and the safety of COVID vaccines, for which he has been criticized. He did, however, send a series of cryptic tweets on Thursday.
Musk’s original tweet was met with a barrage of criticism on social media. “Using Adolf Hitler’s picture and thereby exploiting the tragedy of all people who suffered, were humiliated, tortured, and murdered by the totalitarian system of Nazi Germany created by him is sad and distressing,” the official Twitter account of the Auschwitz Museum tweeted. “It desecrates the memories of all victims and causes harm to a large number of individuals.”
“@ElonMusk has displayed incredibly poor judgement by evoking Hitler to make a point on social media,” the American Jewish Committee said. When it comes to @CanadianPM, It is not fair to compare Justin Trudeau to a murderous dictator who murdered millions. He ought to apologise right away.”
The state of California is presently suing Tesla over charges of racism towards Black employees at its Fremont factory, according to antiracism educator and author Tim Wise.
“Is Elon Musk now likening Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler?” “Wonderboy, two bits of advise,” Wise tweeted. “1. Fix your stupid’self-driving’ cars so they don’t crash; and 2. As a white South African being sued for racism, maybe don’t compare anyone to Hitler or other racists, k?”