Just hours after US President Joe Biden declared on Sunday that he’s cancelling his re-election bid and endorsed VP Kamala Harris, prominent Indian-American venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and tech billionaire Elon Musk had a public spat on X.
The spat stemmed from Khosla’s call to the Democrats to have an ‘open convention’ to choose ‘a more moderate’ candidate to take on Donald Trump, the Republican Presidential nominee.
“Time to have an open convention and get a more moderate candidate who can easily beat @realDonaldTrump. @GovWhitmer and @GovernorShapiro would be a great thing for America not held hostage between MAGA extremists and DEI extremism. Unique opportunity for a better moderate path. Every socially liberal, climate and fiscal voter should want it to balance our approach,” Khosla tweeted.
Replying to the tweet, Musk, the owner of the platform, tried to convince him that the US needs the duo of Trump and his running mate JD Vance. “Come on, Vinod. Trump/Vance LFG!!” Musk tweeted.
Come on, Vinod. Trump/Vance LFG!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 21, 2024
Khosla, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a prominent Democratic political donor, however, had none of it. Replying to his fellow billionaire, Khosla said it’s hard for him to trust someone with “no values, lies, cheats, rapes”.
“Hard for me to support someone with no values, lies, cheats, rapes, demeans women, hates immigrants like me. He may cut my taxes or reduce some regulation but that is no reason to accept depravity in his personal values. Do you want President who will set back climate by a decade in his first year? Do you want his example for your kids as values?” Khosla asked Musk.
Responding to the tweet, Musk urged Khosla to talk to Trump in person and find out more about the Republican. “He doesn’t hate you. In fact, I think he likes you. Meet him and find out for yourself,” part of Musk’s reply read.
“How many times have you read something in the media where you know the real story, but what they printed was diabolically false? Well, it’s way worse in politics, which is a blood sport.
“I’m not suggesting that Trump is without flaws, however we need an administration that is more likely to be meritocratic and promote individual freedoms over the heavy hand of government.
“Many years ago, that was the Democratic Party, but now the pendulum has swung to the Republican Party,” the Tesla CEO said.
Unwilling to back down, the founder of Khosla Ventures shot back: “Agree on not trusting media. Agree on meritocratic and promote individual freedoms. But abandon climate and “drill baby drill? Be MAGA and abandon NATO and American leadership and moral authority? I was a socially liberal registered fiscal Republican till climate made me switch to Independent. Fist used “techno optimist” to describe myself on Twitter but have to add now “with care and caring” to bring along people left behind by the tech driven acceleration and growth we love.”
Agree on not trusting media. Agree on meritocratic and promote individual freedoms. But abandon climate and "drill baby drill? Be MAGA and abandon NATO and American leadership and moral authority? I was a socially liberal registered fiscal Republican till climate made me switch…
— Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) July 21, 2024
Musk too appeared determined and stated that drilling is necessary for civilization in the near future. “Civilization does need oil & gas for quite some time. I don’t think we should demonize an industry that is essential for humanity to function.
“However, as you know, sustainable energy production and consumption is growing very rapidly and is tracking to exceed use of hydrocarbon fuels. That will happen no matter what Trump does.”
He also stated that the USA is paying much more than European allies in NATO. “As for NATO, the amount contributed by the United States is absurdly higher than other allies. Why are American taxpayers paying for the defense of Europe when Europe is fully capable of doing so itself?” Musk questioned.
Khosla hasn’t replied to the tweet yet. It’ll be interesting to see what the 69-year-old says if he responds to Musk’s latest rebuttal.
Meanwhile, Harris has vowed to earn and win the Democratic nomination. In her official statement, the VP has also urged her party to unite to defeat former President Trump in the November 5 polls.
