People Are Pointing Out Elon Musk’s Double Standards Following The SpaceX Starship Explosion
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On Thursday, Elon Musk‘s SpaceX launched an uncrewed Starship rocket that exploded during a test flight. People across Florida and the Caribbean reported the explosion, with many videos of it circulating across social media.
Person wearing a jacket and cap speaking inside a room with a window in the background
The “rapid unscheduled disassembly” (SpaceX’s term for an explosion) occurred just two months after the previous test flight, which also ended up exploding. In both instances, nearby airports delayed flights due to the debris.
Rocket launching, smoke billowing at the base, tall launch tower in the background, clear sky
The consecutive failures sparked online criticism of Elon, especially since DOGE is supposedly concerned with removing monetary waste and incompetence from the government. According to Reuters, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell has said the company has around $22 billion in government contracts.
Here’s what the internet is saying:
1.“Yet another rapid unplanned disassembly of Starship. This time over the Bahamas. Perhaps Elon should spend more time trying to keep his cars and rockets from blowing up rather than trying to disassemble our government and crash the economy.”
Tweet joking about a rocket disassembly in the Bahamas, suggesting Elon Musk focus on his company’s products instead of economic disruption
2.“The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship is a good metaphor for Trump’s failed presidency — except the whole country is dealing with the debris.”
Tweet by Jon Cooper: “The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship is a good metaphor for Trump’s failed presidency—except the whole country is dealing with the debris.”
3.“DOGE needs to go over to SpaceX and figure out what the fuck is wrong. Fire 60-70% of the people because every Starship explodes in flight. At a minimum get rid of all the probationary hires.”
Tweet criticizing SpaceX’s handling of Starship explosions, suggesting firing 60-70% of staff, especially probationary hires
They, of course, appear to be speaking hyperbolically.
4.“Watching SpaceX Starship explode while citizens in this country can’t afford healthcare is so American.”
Tweet by user Jimmy J: “Watching SpaceX Starship explode while citizens in this country can’t afford healthcare is so American.”
5.“SpaceX’s Starship failure over the Bahamas is just another example of Musk’s overhyped tech falling apart, literally. Time to rethink his unchecked influence and prioritize safety over spectacle.”
Tweet criticizing SpaceX Starship’s failure in the Bahamas, urging reconsideration of Elon Musk’s tech influence and advocating safety over spectacle
6.“If NASA had the failure rate SpaceX does, Elon Musk would be firing everyone and Congress would be demanding to know where the money is going.”
Tweet criticizing SpaceX’s failure rate compared to NASA, implying accountability issues with Elon Musk and Congress
7.“Remember when Elon Musk attacked our astronauts, claiming that NASA wouldn’t let SpaceX pick up the people stranded on the ISS. Yeah — I’m sure ‘politics’ is the reason they don’t want to use the SpaceX Starship.”
Tweet discussing Elon Musk’s criticism of NASA for not allowing SpaceX to assist astronauts on the ISS, sarcastically dismissing “politics” as a reason
8.“#PresidentMusk had another great day with tax payer’s money. Starship #8.”
Tweet suggests President Musk spent taxpayers’ money on Starship #8; tone implies criticism
9.“Lemme get this straight… Elon Musk’s rockets keep exploding. His car sales are tanking. His stock is down about 30% in a month. He’s firing people only to realize he made an oopsie and tries to rehire them. He’s implementing Donald Trump’s bad policies that are tanking the economy. And MAGA worships this guy?”
Tweet criticizing Elon Musk for business issues, stock decline, firing decisions, and implementing controversial policies, with a skeptical emoji
10.“Good morning and Happy Friday to everyone who is not surprised one bit that Queen Karma caused a rapid unscheduled disassembly to BOTH trump’s tariffs AND Elon’s SpaceX rockets on the same fucking day. Bada boom.”
Tweet humorously mentions karma causing problems for Trump’s tariffs and Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets
11.“#Starship tumbling out of control. X is overrun with bots. Elon…get control of your own house before you fire any more federal employees.”
Tweet criticizing Elon Musk’s handling of Starship and X, mentioning bots and federal employees
12.“This seems an appropriate time to mention DOGE has found exactly zero dollars wasted in Elon’s tens of billions in government funding. Most strange.”
Tweet by Alex Cole jokes about zero dollars being wasted in government funding by Elon, mentioning DOGE
13.“He is filling the world with his garbage I hate him so much.”
Tweet reads: “He is filling the world with his garbage I hate him so much.”
14.“Elon Musk and SpaceX blow up another rocket funded by $20+ billion in American taxpayer dollars. Good thing no lives are being lost when these rockets blow up. But Musk is overseeing government fraud, waste, and abuse? I suppose our Thank You card is in the mail.”
Tweet criticizing Elon Musk and SpaceX for rocket failures funded by taxpayer money, questioning oversight, and making a sarcastic remark about gratitude
15.And finally, “Elon is the biggest welfare queen on the planet.”
Tweet by John Pavlovitz: “Elon is the biggest welfare queen on the planet.”
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