Elon Musk mocks Zelensky and is heavily criticized

The richest man in the world doesn’t hold back his opinions. Elon Musk says what he thinks – preferably via his platform X, formerly Twitter. He currently focuses mainly on two topics: migration and Ukraine.

He argued with the German government in a post around the weekend. It is about migration policy in Europe and how Germany tackles this. But he also pokes his nose into the war of aggression against Ukraine, which is contrary to international law. He repeatedly causes confusion with his controversial statements about Ukraine.

Elon Musk makes fun of Zelensky

Now on X he mocks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj with a meme.

“If it took five minutes and you didn’t ask for a billion dollars in help,” says the meme, which shows a visibly tense Zelenskyj.

For British journalist Euan McDonald, who has been reporting from Ukraine for years, it is now clear: Musk is against democratic Ukraine and for fascist Russia, “as he now uses his own account to post Kremlin propaganda,” he writes on X to the meme.

“While Elon, out of boredom, posts terrible memes about Ukrainian President Zelensky,” political scientist and geopolitical strategist Velina Tchakarova wants to remind “that this is also the person who accepted the American offer to evacuate on the first day of Russia’s big attack.”

In doing so, Zelensky gave his people an enormous moral impulse to defend themselves against Russia. She continues on X:

Criticism of Musk: Apparently a tasteless meme for many users

Overall, Musk’s meme irritates many users. It’s tacky, says one user. “Imagine sinking so low as to mock a country that is suffering a crime of aggression,” he explains.

“If you don’t want to support Ukraine, that’s your decision. But why so loud and styleless?”, political scientist Luke Coffey wants to know from Musk. He is a fellow at the Hudson Institute.

The post is like a slap in the face, especially for Ukrainians: “Not only do we have to face genocide alone, but we are also humiliated for asking for help,” writes Ukrainian Roman Yeremenko on X.

Experts such as American historian Timothy Snyder now share his opinion that Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine.

“And while Elon and his fanboys are having fun and making memes about ‘Ukrainian beggars’, we have to take shelter at four in the morning because of a rocket alert,” Yeremenko adds.

By mocking a country currently struggling for survival, Musk is making himself a target for criticism on his own platform. The meme therefore comes at a difficult time when Slovakia’s financial support, for example from the newly elected government, could at best be lost.

The ongoing dispute over the US budget is also to the detriment of Ukraine. The Senate had to agree on an interim budget to avoid a so-called shutdown. However, this 45-day bridge budget does not include any aid for Ukraine, which is under attack by Russia.