The billionaire has suggested that criticism of Israel amounts to open bigotry against Jews
The US Democratic Party has become “openly anti-Semitic,” SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed, after Democrat lawmaker Rashida Tlaib called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” during his address to Congress.
Speaking to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu vowed – to thunderous applause from Republicans and a more muted response from Democrats – to win a “total victory in Gaza” and “fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities.”
Around half of the Democratic caucuses in the House and Senate skipped the speech. Among those who attended was Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib, who held up a small sign reading “Guilty of Genocide” and “War criminal” as the Israeli prime minister spoke.
Tlaib’s protest drew condemnation from Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats. In a post on X, tech billionaire Mark Pincus wondered, “How is this part of the Dem party? Are Dem leaders denouncing?”
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“People who have been lifelong Democrats refuse to accept the clear reality that the Democratic Party is rapidly becom[ing] openly anti-Semitic,” Musk replied, claiming that “This trend is accelerating, not slowing down.”
Support for Israel is typically an issue of bipartisan agreement in the US. Back in April, a bill providing $26.3 billion in assistance to the Jewish state passed the House by 366 votes to 58, after which it was sent to the Senate and combined with bills gifting tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine and Taiwan, which also passed with bipartisan support.