Elon Musk Visits Israel Amid Controversy Over Social Media Post

Elon Musk made a trip to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, where the two visited the site of a Hamas attack. The visit seems intended to address the ongoing criticism following Musk’s support for an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X, the social media platform he owns.

After Musk agreed with a post accusing Jewish communities of promoting hatred, numerous major brands suspended their advertising on X. The White House condemned Musk for promoting antisemitic and racist hate.

Upon arriving in Israel, Musk wrote on X, stating, “actions speak louder than words.” He toured Kfar Azza, an Israeli kibbutz that witnessed a Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7. Video footage showed Musk and Netanyahu inspecting the aftermath of the attack.

In a conversation broadcast on X, Musk described the visit to Kfar Azza as “jarring” and expressed concern after viewing footage of the Oct. 7 massacre. The discussion with Netanyahu focused on the rationale behind the war in Gaza. Musk emphasized the importance of addressing those intending harm to Jewish people while minimizing civilian casualties.

Despite facing criticism for tolerating antisemitic abuse on X, Musk did not address his social media post during the conversation with Netanyahu. Musk is expected to meet with President Isaac Herzog of Israel later on Monday.

This visit occurs amid broader criticism of Musk’s handling of antisemitic content on X, including previous attacks on financier George Soros and threats to sue the Anti-Defamation League. The organization has highlighted the rise of antisemitism on the X platform.