Elon Musk challenges Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to a duel
The wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, has taken up a challenge from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
1 August 2024 09:17
Nicolás Maduro has been the President of Venezuela since 2013. The politician won the elections again this past July, extending his rule for a third term. A portion of Venezuelan society disagrees with the election results. Protests broke out in the country, with demonstrators accusing Maduro of falsifying the commission's protocols.
The Venezuelan president's critics now include Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, X, and SpaceX and the wealthiest man in the world. The billionaire openly admitted that Maduro acquired power in an undemocratic manner: "Major election fraud by Maduro," Musk wrote on X.
Elon Musk vs. Nicolás Maduro
Musk's statement reached the attention of the Venezuelan president. In a public appearance, he challenged the billionaire to a duel.
"I accept [the challenge]," wrote the billionaire in response to Maduro's provocation. However, the head of Tesla is skeptical that the duel will happen. "He will chicken out," Musk added.
Elon Musk reacts to the Venezuelan president's taunt
Musk proposed high stakes for the duel: "If I win, he resigns as dictator of Venezuela. If he wins, I give him a free ride to Mars."
Mark Zuckerberg, head of Meta, has been drawn into the narrative, adding more intrigue. He was supposed to have a freak fight with Musk long ago, but the duel never occurred. The Tesla CEO reminded everyone of this incident amid the conflict with Maduro.
Musk has shocked many people with his statements and business decisions. It wouldn’t be surprising if the duel with Maduro moved beyond online taunts and became a reality.