Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has challenged [1] Elon Musk to a fight on national television.
This comes after Musk accused Maduro of election fraud following Venezuela’s recent presidential election.
After both Maduro and his opponent claimed victory in the election, Musk took to his platform, X, to allege widespread fraud by the socialist leader. “Maduro, leave! Venezuelans chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. The data announce a crushing victory of the opposition, and the world is waiting for you to recognize the defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence, and death,” Musk wrote in one of his posts.
Maduro responded by calling Musk a threat to Venezuela and challenged him to a fight on national television. “Social media creates a virtual reality, and who controls the virtual reality? Our new archenemy, the famous Elon Musk,” Maduro said. “Do you want to fight? Let’s do it. Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you, Elon Musk. Let’s fight wherever you want.”
I accept
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024 [2]
JUST IN: Elon Musk accepts Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro’s challenge to a fight.
Just when you thought 2024 couldn’t get any crazier.
Maduro: “Elon Musk. Whoever messes with me, dries up. Whoever messes with Venezuela dries up, Elon Musk.
You want to fight? Let’s have… pic.twitter.com/rqvCphOsuJ [3]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 31, 2024 [4]
The controversy follows Venezuela’s National Electoral Council declaring Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, despite exit polls suggesting an opposition victory. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez was reported to have won 44% of the vote.
Venezuela: Maduro’s state-controlled media published fake results of the election that comically add up to 109.2%.
National exit poll conducted by American firm Edison Research has Maduro at just 31% and Gonzalez at 65%. https://t.co/bTuLfXGBRt [5] pic.twitter.com/23lXPCFEpu [6]— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) July 29, 2024 [7]