Tech mogul Elon Musk has leveled serious allegations against George Soros's foundation, alleging a desire to undermine Western civilization. This statement comes on the eve of Musk's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California.
Musk's assertion was made in response to a user-shared video depicting arrivals on Italy's Lampedusa Island from North Africa, which referenced a supposed "George Soros led invasion" of Europe. The owner of X, Musk's platform, posted, "The Soros organization appears to want nothing less than the destruction of western civilization."
George Soros, a Hungarian-American businessman and philanthropist, has long been the target of baseless antisemitic conspiracy theories. His Open Society Foundations, a supporter of civil society groups addressing the welfare of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, frequently faces criticism from the far right.
Critics accuse Musk of amplifying antisemitism on his platform, a charge he vehemently denies. His meeting with Netanyahu, set for Monday, is stated to focus on artificial intelligence technology, expressly not delving into Musk's ongoing dispute with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) regarding antisemitism on X.
However, reports from the Washington Post suggest that the meeting is part of a broader effort by Musk's Jewish associates to counter the escalating criticism surrounding the surge in antisemitic rhetoric on X.
Musk has gone so far as to threaten legal action against the ADL, a US-based civil rights group dedicated to combatting antisemitism and prejudice, accusing them of attempting to "kill" the platform through "false accusations of antisemitism" against him.
Various civil rights organizations, including the Center for Countering Digital Hate and the ADL, have released studies indicating a rise in hate speech on X under Musk's stewardship.