The Prosecution of George Soros
Sunday 19 January 2025
In a recent interview on X, Elon Musk claimed that, in his opinion, George Soros "hates humanity." This bold statement, coming from the platform’s owner, carries significant weight and raises questions about Musk's understanding of Soros's life and work.
Musk mentioned Soros's "troubled upbringing" but made no comparison to his own troubled upbringing. Such a comparison, however, might have underscored a fact Musk seems unable to grasp: what it meant to be a 13-year-old Jewish boy in Budapest during the height of the Nazi occupation in 1944. If Musk were to visit the Jewish Synagogue in the heart of Budapest, he would see gravestone after gravestone marked 1944—a stark reminder of the 424,000 Hungarian Jews deported to Auschwitz in just eight weeks. Others were shot and thrown into the Danube. Soros survived this horror as a child, a reality that would trouble any moral person deeply. Does Musk understand history or did he forget this unimaginable chapter?
George Soros has long supported progressive causes, much as the Koch brothers have championed conservative ones. Musk, meanwhile, has given more financial backing to Trump than Soros and Koch combined have given to any candidate. But because Soros funds liberal causes—such as supporting judges Musk considers "soft on crime"—a giant leap of faith is made in accusing Soros of hating humanity. That logic is akin to calling Musk a murderer and blaming him for all electric vehicle-related deaths because of his influence on the EV industry.
Source: Wikipedia
The accusation that Soros "hates humanity" also reflects a troubling pattern. Around the world, Soros has become a convenient scapegoat for populist leaders. His Jewish heritage and foreign accent make him a target for subtle and overt bigotry. The anti-Soros narrative has parallels to the “stab-in-the-back” myth that spread across Europe after World War I, blaming Jews for Germany and Austria’s defeat. Today, Soros is similarly blamed for everything from election interference to wildfires in California—an absurd but effective tactic for sowing division.
Musk, a self-professed voracious reader, claims to have read the Bible. Yet his comments about Soros suggest he may have overlooked—or forgotten—the Ninth Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” Spreading misinformation, whether on social media or in public discourse, erodes trust and fuels division. The Ninth Commandment may have been observed day one on platforms like Facebook and Twitter but surely was discarded by noon in favor of capitalism's First Commandment: Revenue.
Musk criticized Soros for “breaking the Bank of England,” referring to his role in shorting the British pound in 1992. However, Musk fails to mentioned the role the Bank of England played in making itself vulnerable. Whether one agrees with his methods or not, Soros’s achievements are widely respected in financial circles and the envy of hedge fund managers. Framing them as destructive plays into the anti-Soros narrative.
Despite the relentless attacks, law-and-order figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, India’s Narendra Modi, and Donald Trump have never charged Soros with any crimes. The reason is simple: he hasn’t committed any. Soros’s philanthropic efforts, from funding schools like Central European University to supporting political causes, remain legal and, for many, admirable. By joining the anti-Soros bandwagon, Musk aligns himself with populist leaders like Orbán, Modi, and Trump. This may bolster Musk’s public persona among certain audiences, but it risks undermining his credibility with others.
To paraphrase Ronald Reagan: it’s not that Musk is wrong; it’s just that so much of what he says isn’t true.
