In a since-deleted post, billionaire “X” owner Elon Musk wrote that, “No one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Harris,” a post that sparked outrage and concern.
White House Spokesperson Andrew Bates called the rhetoric “irresponsible.”
“As President Biden and Vice President Harris said after yesterday’s disturbing news, ‘there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,’ and ‘we all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,'” Bates said in a statement. “Violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about. This rhetoric is irresponsible.”
In response to an X user’s question about why people might want to kill Trump, Musk tweeted: “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.” As a Trump supporter, Musk often posts in his favor.
The Secret Service confirmed that its agents “opened fire on a gunman” near the golf course and recovered an “AK-47 style rifle” along with a video camera.