​In early February 2025, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) made headlines when she criticized

billionaire Elon Musk during an Instagram live stream. She called Musk “one of the least intelligent billionaires” she had ever met, and expressed concerns about his ability and ethics in managing and reforming government spending. These statements sparked a wave of heated debate in public opinion and in the media.​

Many people have spoken out to defend Elon Musk, emphasizing his remarkable achievements in the fields of technology and business. From co-founding Zip2 and PayPal, to founding SpaceX and expanding Tesla, Musk has demonstrated outstanding vision and leadership. In particular, SpaceX has successfully developed the reusable Starship rocket, marking an important step forward in space technology. Biographer Walter Isaacson also commented that Musk is a genius in the field of engineering, although sometimes lacking in sensitivity to human emotions.​

However, this is not the first time Elon Musk has faced criticism from politicians and the public. Previously, he was criticized for controversial statements related to social and political issues. For example, in September 2024, the White House condemned Musk after he posted comments that were considered joking about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, saying his words were “irresponsible” and could incite violence.​

In addition, in November 2024, Taiwan’s leader also criticized Musk after he suggested that tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by adopting a “special administrative region” model for Taiwan. This statement was considered ignorant of the political situation and cross-strait relations. ​

More recently, in December 2024, Musk continued to cause controversy when he criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and expressed support for the far-right AfD party. These actions have prompted German lawmakers to call for measures to limit Musk’s influence in business and politics.​

These events show that Elon Musk, although praised for his great contributions in the fields of technology and business, often becomes the center of debate and criticism related to his statements and actions on social and political issues.