Elon Musk Criticizes Steve Bannon in Ongoing Trump Feud

Elon Musk recently labeled Steve Bannon a “criminal,” escalating their conflict, as he urged the former White House strategist to seize control of Musk’s SpaceX. In a post on social media, Musk reacted to Bannon’s call for Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act, suggesting that Bannon’s past actions categorized him as someone who promotes crime.

Musk, who became a U.S. citizen in 2002, expressed his views in response to Bannon’s commentary on Trump’s potential actions regarding SpaceX. The electric car tycoon referred to Bannon as a criminal who supports illegal activities.

Bannon, on the other hand, has his share of controversies, having served four months in federal prison after being convicted of contempt for refusing to cooperate with the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots. After being pardoned by Trump at the end of his presidency for fraud-related accusations, Bannon’s legal troubles were numerous, including conspiracies related to fundraising in connection with the southern border wall.

The Context of Their Conflict

This feud between Musk and Trump through Bannon has been quite unexpected, especially as it relates to a significant congressional bill. While Bannon directed criticisms at Musk, Tesla’s executives hinted at potential decisions affecting SpaceX’s operations. It’s a bit ironic, given that just a few months ago, SpaceX made headlines for launching astronauts, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.

The Defense Production Act, invoked by the government to take control of critical civilian assets like SpaceX, has been used historically to facilitate production during crises. This act was notably employed during the pandemic to boost the production of essential medical supplies. It’s complicated, really. While it could theoretically place Musk’s company under federal oversight, the necessity for such an action seems, well, uncertain.