Elon Musk Calls for Boycott of ABC: “Time to Take Them Down!”

In a dramatic new turn in the already chaotic 2024 political landscape, tech magnate and serial disruptor Elon Musk has launched an all-out call for a nationwide boycott of ABC Network. The controversial move follows the recent presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, which left many viewers, supporters, and pundits alike in a state of uproar over how the moderators handled the event. Musk, never one to shy away from a fight, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to unleash a fury of tweets aimed at dismantling what he perceives as media bias—calling for the complete downfall of ABC.™

The catalyst for Musk’s bold stance? The polarizing debate itself. As Trump and Harris clashed on stage, tensions escalated. Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis faced scrutiny as they fact-checked Trump multiple times and, simultaneously, were accused of being overly lenient with Harris. For many on the right, the debate seemed to favor the vice president, while Trump supporters felt that ABC had orchestrated the event to undermine their candidate.™

This charged atmosphere quickly spilled over into social media, with accusations of bias flying in every direction. But Musk didn’t simply watch the online firestorm; instead, he threw fuel on the flames by announcing a boycott. His message was loud, clear, and, as always, quintessentially Musk:

The tweet immediately went viral, garnering over half a million likes within an hour. Musk’s millions of followers—ranging from die-hard fans of Tesla to cryptocurrency advocates—rallied behind him, turning the boycott into a trending movement on X. With #BoycottABC surging across social media, Musk’s crusade against the media giant had officially begun.

In the aftermath of the debate, both Trump and Harris supporters claimed ABC had stacked the deck in the other’s favor. Trump loyalists felt that the moderators were constantly interrupting him, while critics on the left slammed ABC for failing to hold Trump accountable for his inflammatory remarks. For Musk, the debate wasn’t just a failure of moderation; it was symptomatic of a larger issue—what he sees as media bias and corporate manipulation of public opinion.

In a string of follow-up tweets, Musk likened ABC’s coverage to outdated gas-powered cars—obsolete and unfit for the modern age. Musk, never one to mince words, declared that the debate had been a “circus show,” asserting that it would be better to have no debates at all than to endure more of these “biased spectacles.”

“ABC’s coverage is as outdated as gas-powered cars,” he tweeted. “Time to boycott this biased network. We’re better off with no debates than with these circus shows. Let’s take ‘em down.”

The tweet resonated with many of his supporters, who echoed the sentiment and began cancelling their subscriptions to ABC, deleting the network’s app, and even proposing an all-out boycott of Disney+—ABC’s parent company.

This latest outburst is just one of many attacks Musk has launched against the mainstream media over the years. From accusing journalists of bias against his companies to advocating for free speech on social media platforms, Musk has long been a vocal critic of traditional news outlets. But this time, he’s not just criticizing; he’s calling for a full-scale boycott and suggesting an entirely new way to conduct political debates.

“Why not stream debates on X?” Musk proposed in a follow-up tweet. “No filters, no biased moderators—just straight talk. We’ll make it happen, and you can bet there won’t be any interruptions when the candidates speak.”™

The idea of broadcasting presidential debates on X gained immediate traction, particularly among Trump’s base, who have long criticized traditional networks for what they perceive as bias. But it also stirred controversy, with critics accusing Musk of undermining journalistic integrity and promoting a one-sided narrative.

While Musk’s call for a boycott was met with overwhelming support from his fanbase, it also ignited a wave of criticism. Political pundits and journalists slammed the billionaire for his apparent disregard for the principles of fair journalism. “Is this what we’ve come to?” one commentator wrote. “A billionaire decides to take down a major media network because he doesn’t like how a debate was moderated? This is about control, not fairness.”

For ABC, the boycott announcement was met with swift resistance. A spokesperson from the network dismissed Musk’s accusations, calling them “reckless” and “baseless,” and reaffirming their commitment to journalistic integrity. “We stand by our moderators and the job they did in providing a fair and balanced debate,” the spokesperson said. “ABC has always been committed to delivering accurate, unbiased information.”

Disney, ABC’s parent company, has yet to respond officially, but internal sources suggest that executives may be discussing the potential fallout from Musk’s boycott call, as they recognize the immense power his social media influence commands.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Musk pushed the envelope even further. In a series of provocative tweets, he joked about the possibility of hosting future political debates on Mars—an idea that quickly gained traction in the media and online communities.

“Maybe it’s time we take politics off Earth,” Musk mused. “Imagine the candidates debating inside a SpaceX Starship on their way to colonize Mars. No biased moderators—just zero gravity and the future of humanity at stake.”

While the concept of Mars debates remains a fanciful one, Musk’s larger point is undeniable: the way we conduct political discourse is in need of a serious overhaul. For Musk, ABC is just the latest example of a media entity that has outlived its usefulness in a new age of unfiltered, digital communication.

As the #BoycottABC movement continues to gain momentum, questions remain about its impact. Will ABC suffer a significant drop in viewership and subscriptions? Or will the network continue to air debates, weathering the storm as just another political skirmish in the polarized media landscape?

One thing is for certain: Elon Musk, with his loyal following and penchant for making waves, isn’t going away any time soon. Whether calling for boycotts, suggesting new platforms for political discourse, or even imagining debates in space, Musk is firmly planting himself as one of the most disruptive figures in modern public life.

As for ABC? They may still be airing debates, but after Musk’s call to arms, they’ll likely have to keep a close eye on the sky. After all, with Musk at the helm, you never know when the next debate might be broadcast live from Mars.