American billionaire Elon Musk paid an “incredibly moving” visit to the site of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau on Monday, just weeks after he caused a stir with conspiratorial and anti-Semitic comments. The European Jewish Association (EJA) said Elon Musk laid a wreath and attended a memorial service alongside EJA President Rabbi Menachem Margolin during a private tour of the former Nazi death camp. Photos showed Elon Musk visiting the place with his son on his shoulders.
“It was incredibly moving, deeply sad and tragic that people could do this to other people… It touches the heart even more when you see it in person,” the billionaire said at an EJA conference in the neighboring city of Krakow in southern Poland. In November, the White House accused Elon Musk of “pathetically promoting anti-Semitic and racist hatred” in an anti-white post.
“The stupidest post I have ever made”
Elon Musk's statement triggered an avalanche of departures from major advertisers. The billionaire later apologized for what he called “the worst and stupidest post I have ever written.” He said his remark was misinterpreted and he would try to clarify that in subsequent messages. Following the controversy, the SpaceX founder visited Israel and said the trip had been planned earlier and was not an “apology tour.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog then told him that he had “a big role to play” in the fight against anti-Semitism.
“The owner of Tesla and SpaceX is accused of allowing hate speech to spread because there is less anti-Semitism on X than on any other social network,” Elon Musk said during a roundtable.