Elon Musk answered a challenge from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday, accepting the socialist leader’s offer of a televised fight. The bizarre matchup, reminiscent of Musk’s short-lived plans for a pay-per-view cage match with Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, comes after the Tesla founder called the presidential election in Venezuela a “travesty” and accused Maduro of rigging the vote.
“Elon Musk, you are desperate. You went off the rails. Control yourself, or you will fail just like these right-wing-led all-American politicians,” Maduro said in a video shared widely across social media. “Elon Musk, whoever messes with me dries up. Whoever messes with Venezuela dries up, Elon Musk. You want to fight? Let’s have it, Elon Musk.”
Elon Musk accepts Maduro's challenge to a fight.
Musk: "I accept… He will chicken out."
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) July 31, 2024
“I am ready. I am the son of Bolivar and Chavez. I am not afraid of you, Elon Musk,” Maduro continued. “Let’s go at it, wherever you want, as we say in Caracas in the neighborhoods. If you want it, I want it, Elon Musk. Just say where.”
Learn more about the 2024 Vault Conference and secure your ticket today!
Responding to Maduro’s challenge, Musk said simply “I accept,” saying in a later X post that the president “will chicken out” rather than actually go toe-to-toe on live television.
I accept
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024
He will chicken out
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024
Seemingly taking the whole situation in jest, Musk proposed hypothetical stakes for the showdown: “If I win, he resigns as dictator of Venezuela. If he wins, I give him a free ride to Mars.”
If I win, he resigns as dictator of Venezuela.
If he wins, I give him a free ride to Mars.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024
As protests against Maduro’s dubious electoral victory continue across Venezuela, the president has declared that Musk is the country’s “new archenemy” who “wants to come with his rockets and an army to invade.” Maduro has also blamed the unrest on an American-backed color revolution backing his opposition.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Got a hot scoop or an idea for a story? Connect with the VT writers on Minnect!
Add comment