Elon Musk responded to Taylor Swift‘s endorsement of Kamala Harris for president with a post that was highly misogynistic and objectifying.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the business mogul made a flippant comment that ultimately devalued women’s contributions to public discourse, particularly in politics.
Instead of engaging with the substance of Swift’s presidential endorsement, Musk attempts to reduce her politics to a trivial joke. His comment fits within the framework of patriarchal romanticism. It is an inherently misogynistic lens that portrays men as powerful protectors, while women are cast as passive figures who must rely on male guidance and protection.
The Subversive Wink of Rape Culture
Humor can be a tool used in relational aggression, even within parasocial contexts. Musk’s joke not only objectifies Swift by reducing her to a reproductive vessel, it also belittles her extraordinary achievements in the entertainment industry. He is implying that her worth is primarily tied to traditional female roles, i.e. childbearing.
The objectification of women and reducing them to a biological function is a core component of rape culture. Musk doesn’t explicitly threaten Swift with violence, but he implies a form of coercion by suggesting that he will potentially include her in the collective of dysfunctional intimate partnerships he has amassed by fathering a child on her.
Despite Musk’s dysfunctional romantic history, he suggests that fathering Swift’s children would be some kind of prize, dismissing her unparalleled success and autonomy. His lewd and offensive joke is a coded sexist remark intended to discredit Swift’s public support of Kamala Harris. By casually invoking rape culture, Musk is attempting to exclude Swift from the political discourse.
Perception of Women in the Musk Family
Elon Musk has been married three times, divorced twice, and dated high-profile celebrities like actor Amber Heard and singer Grimes (Claire Boucher). He has twelve children with various partners, including twins and triplets. Musk’s intimate partnerships reflect a chaotic pattern, characterized by unequal power dynamics and traditional gender expectations.
Isaacson’s authorized biography of Musk reveals that the mogul’s romantic relationships are marked by tension and control, yet his intimate partners are often vilified by his family of origin. Isaacson, notes that women in Elon’s life are frequently viewed through a lens of criticism and hostility, with little room for their autonomy or voice.1
Despite Musk’s storied workaholism and reports of his Jekyll-and-Hyde behavior, his family consistently portrays a familiar narrative for each of his failed romantic relationships: Musk is cast as the hapless victim of a series of “mean” women.2 His brother Kimbal Musk and mother Maye Musk have openly criticized some of his partners, including his first wife, Justine Wilson. Kimbal told biographer Walter Isaacson that Heard was “toxic”. He compared her to their allegedly abusive father, Errol Musk, who Elon has described as “evil” and relentless in his criticism. Musk is currently locked in a custody battle with Grimes of three of their children.3
Musk and his family, instead of acknowledging his role in his relationships, rely on scapegoats to deflect responsibility. This not only protects his ego but also hinders his ability to learn and grow. Swift represents the archetype of the blonde women Musk often pursues but who eventually leave him. In the final analysis, Musk’s reductive comment on Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris reflects his feelings of inadequacy, which he attempts to counter with a feeble attempt to assert dominance.
Reactions to Musk’s Remark To Taylor Swift
Beyond the sphere of incel and red pill culture, Musk’s dismissive comment to Swift was met with widespread disgust by many X users. Journalist Moira Donegan summed up Musk’s remark as “retaliatory sexual harassment”. Her post was viewed by 8.7 million users and liked 346,000 times.
The “hacktivist” collective Anonymous did not mince words in their response to Musk’s comment.
Content Creator Quinn Nelson responded by laughing at Musk, not with him.
Larry The Cat, the chief mouser at 10 Downing Street, hilariously rejected Musk’s offer of protection and chastised his objectification of Swift.
Summary
Elon Musk’s comment on Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris, which Swift has neither acknowledged nor responded to, reflects a deeper pattern of behavior rooted in his own insecurities and controversial beliefs. Liked by over 450,000 users, many of whom share Musk’s promotion of racist conspiracy theories such as “population collapse” and the “great replacement theory,” his post is more than a casual remark. It embodies a troubling worldview where Musk relies on scapegoating to reinforce his sense of superiority and entitlement. This mindset drives him to disempower and oppress marginalized groups, including women and people of color. Musk’s family, benefiting socially and financially from his influence, continues to enable his problematic attitudes. In his narcissism, Musk has tragically become the very figure he despises: his own “evil” father, perpetuating the cycle of oppression and self-delusion.
Resources
- Isaacson, Walter. Elon Musk. Simon & Schuster, 2023. ↩︎
- Kennedy, Dana. (2023, September 12).“Inside ‘drama magnet’ Elon Musk’s life of ‘toxic’ women and ‘chaos’ as book explores why mogul is ‘wired for war’.” New York Post. ↩︎
- Klee, Miles (2024, September 11). “Elon Musk Threatens Taylor Swift After Harris Endorsement: ‘I Will Give You a Child’” Rolling Stone. ↩︎
Photos by Deposit Photos and Instagram @TaylorSwift.
