Elon Musk Faces Assassination Threat
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Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the Elon Musk podcast. This is a show where we discuss the critical crossroads that shape SpaceX, Tesla, X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink. I'm your host, Will Walden.

In the wake of the shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, an apparent threat has now been made against Elon Musk. The threat emerged over the weekend on BlueSky, a social media platform billed as an alternative to Musk's own X platform. A user with the handle smilingnodding.bluesky.social posted an image that appeared to depict Musk standing on a sidewalk while an unseen assailant

Ames Agunahim. The post was accompanied by the caption hashtag manifesting. Now, Musk, who serves as the CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, in addition to owning X, has faced heightened security concerns in recent years as his prominence has grown. According to a New York Times report from September, Musk travels with a security detail of up to 20 professionals, some of whom are armed and dangerous and accompanied by medical personnel at the same time. However,

The latest threat shows that the increased vulnerability of top corporate executives exists, even those with substantial security resources at their disposal. The killing of Thompson, who was shot dead on December 4th as he arrived at a company event in New York City, has prompted a broader re-examination of executive protection measures across multiple industries.

Charlie Carroll, who's the CEO of ASET, A-S-E-T Corporation, said, as you can imagine, people are scrambling, companies are scrambling, which ASET provides security services for individuals, corporations, and also for government agencies.

Now, Glenn Kucira, who's the president of Allies Universal Enhanced Protection Services, reported that his firm has been inundated with calls from executives in the 24 hours after Thompson's shooting. Now, Allies Universal provides security to about 80% of all Fortune 500 companies.

The apparent threat against Musk adds a troubling new dimension to the evolving security landscape for high-profile business leaders. Musk's rise to global prominence coupled with his outspoken political views and high-profile feuds have made him an increasingly visible target.

and Musk's role in the upcoming Trump administration has further heightened his profile. The world's richest man has been tapped, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, a non-governmental task force assigned to find ways to fire federal workers, cut programs, and slash federal regulations.

Now, this appointment, combined with Musk's well-documented clashes with government regulators and critics, has thrust him into the political spotlight in a way that could make him a more attractive target for those harboring grievances. Now, the Blue Sky Post encouraging an attack on Musk was apparently removed by the platform's moderators, though the user behind the account claimed the post was taken down because a bunch of crybabies complained.

Now, neither Musk nor the user has responded for our request of comment. Elon Musk and other billionaire CEOs have full-time security details, but the top executives and many smaller companies don't. That can leave them vulnerable. And the shooting of Thompson, who was just walking alone on a New York City sidewalk when a masked gunman ambushed and killed him, has sent shockwaves through the business world. Surveillance footage showed the assailant approaching Thompson from behind and firing multiple shots before fleeing the scene. They caught the guy.

But back on Monday, the killer was at large and police hadn't determined the motive or the shooter's identity. He was out there. The brazen nature of the attack carried out in broad daylight in a crowded urban setting highlights the concerns about the safety of corporate leaders right now. People are really worried about this. They're worried that it could happen to them. But looking at their security plans and trying to figure out what more they can do to protect themselves and their employees.

Now for Elon Musk, the latest threat is just the latest in a string of security challenges he has faced as his influence and public profile have grown. The New York Times report noted that Musk's security apparatus has expanded significantly in recent years, with a billionaire often traveling with armed guards.

numerous armed guards, medical personnel, personal assistants, and family at times. Now this level of protection and no more autonomy for Elon

uh shows there's unique risks faced by such a high profile person he's outspoken his persona is controversial his business decisions are also controversial has made him a target for criticism harassment and even violence from his battles with government regulators to his high-profile feuds with other tech leaders musk has cultivated a combative public image that has drawn the ire of both supporters and detractors i want to take a step back for a second

And let you all remember, remember when Elon was just this tech guy with these broad ambitions to send people to Mars, to make electric cars, to do all the fun things. And now he's a competitive public figure that's working with the government to shut down a lot of people's businesses and a lot of people's jobs. So, of course, people are going to be upset.

And, you know, this public outrage against Elon has been culminating for years. And the apparent threat against Musk on Blue Sky is just the latest in a series of incidents that shows that he needs heightened security measures right now. All corporate executives are looking into this. So back in 2022, Musk was the target of a foiled kidnapping plot, which a group of individuals was arrested for allegedly planning to abduct him.

Such incidents have prompted Musk and other high-profile business leaders to invest heavily in their own personal security, with many relying on teams of trained pros to protect them both at work and at home in their personal lives when they go out shopping or whatever. They have armed guards with them. However, the killing of Thompson has highlighted the vulnerabilities that even the most well-protected executives may face.

Now, it remains to be seen whether SpaceX or any other commercial launch companies are ready for such a major commitment for this. Can they sustain the security detail of Elon Musk over at X? Are they going to be around all the time? Can he walk in public anymore?

We're not 100% sure. And as this investigation of Thompson's killing continues and the threat against Musk remains under scrutiny, and it's a real thing, the business community is grappling with the unsettling reality that even the most powerful and well-connected executives are not immune to the risks of violence. Now, the implications of this new security landscape extend far beyond the personal safety of individual leaders, though.

raising broader questions about the stability and resilience of the corporate world when they face such drastic and incredibly increasing threats.

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