Piers Morgan ignited a war of words with journalist Mehdi Hasan after congratulating Elon Musk on becoming the world’s first trillionaire.
The exchange began when Morgan took to X on Saturday to praise the SpaceX founder following the company’s record-breaking IPO.
“Amid all the predictable seething jealousy and bitter resentment to this news, I’d like to congratulate @elonmusk on an astounding achievement. He’s got there by being the most driven, creative, hard-working and ambitious business genius in history. Salut, Elon!” Morgan wrote.
Hasan was quick to dismiss the praise, accusing Morgan of currying favor with Musk for a potential interview.
“I know you’re trying to get an interview with him, Piers, but come on! That’s BS,” Hasan responded.
The Core Argument: What Does ‘Hard Work’ Mean for a Trillionaire?
The spat quickly escalated beyond personal digs into a debate about the nature of Musk’s wealth.
Morgan asked Hasan to specify which part of his statement was false. Hasan countered that Morgan’s characterization of Musk as “hard-working” was laughable, given the Tesla CEO’s constant activity on X.
Morgan shot back that because Musk owns the platform, every time he uses it, “he is working.”
Hasan then pivoted to a more serious accusation, alleging that the billionaire uses his wealth and platform to incite violence and fund controversial figures.
“Or inciting violence. If you call that ‘working’. Not sure how you can have so much contempt for Tommy Robinson while also praising the guy funding and amplifying him,” Hasan tweeted.
Morgan turned the tables, asking Hasan why he continues to use Musk’s platform if he objects to its owner’s politics.
In his final significant reply, Morgan claimed the ability to hold nuanced views. “Because unlike you, I am able to see, and acknowledge, the good and bad in people like Musk, Trump etc.,” he wrote.
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The $1.1 Trillion Milestone
The heated exchange followed a historic financial milestone. SpaceX’s highly anticipated IPO on the Nasdaq saw shares open at $150 on Friday, well above the initial price of $135, giving the company a market valuation exceeding $2 trillion.
As the majority owner of SpaceX, and with stakes in Tesla and X, Musk’s net worth surged past $1.1 trillion. This cemented his status as the richest person in modern history, far outpacing the wealth of other tech billionaires.
The achievement has sparked fierce debate. While Morgan championed the success as the result of relentless innovation, critics like Senator Elizabeth Warren argued that the milestone is a “wake up call” highlighting the need for wealth taxes and reform.
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