Following a recent Secret Service probe into Elon Musk’s online remarks, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has come to the defense of the Tesla Inc. CEO’s often contentious social media conduct.
In a recent podcast interview, Cuban described Musk’s online behavior as “kind of insane” but emphasized that it’s simply part of the Tesla chief’s personality. The discussion arose after Musk’s recent joke about pop icon Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. Cuban, who has previously communicated with Musk, defended the tycoon’s comedic style.
During the interview, Cuban stated that Musk’s joke was “kind of insane” but defended him by saying, “that’s just the kind of banter you’d expect from him.” He recounted a previous text exchange with Musk, clarifying that they are not friends but have communicated in the past. “We just texted back and forth a few times and he had just had a child, and I said: ‘Congrats on your 90th child,'” Cuban shared during the interview. “And his response was — ‘Mars needs people.’ Right, so that’s just Elon’s sense of humor, right? I have no problem throwing Elon under the bus, but I’ll save it for when it’s truly deserved,” he said.
Musk’s digital behavior has previously landed him in hot water. In 2018, a tweet about taking Tesla private resulted in a $40 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. More recently, a tweet speculating about a potential assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump sparked a Secret Service investigation. The Secret Service confirmed to Bloomberg that they were aware of Musk’s tweet but declined to provide further comments due to ongoing enforcement actions. Musk deleted the tweet on the same day, subsequently labeling it as a joke.
This incident underscores the ongoing debate about the role and impact of social media in the corporate world, particularly when used by high-profile executives. Musk’s social media behavior has not only faced legal scrutiny but has also impacted Tesla’s stock performance. Cuban’s defense of Musk’s online conduct highlights the potential legal and reputational risks associated with such behavior. This case emphasizes the need for executives to carefully consider the implications of their online activities, especially given the power and reach of social media platforms.
