Elon Musk Supports Bill Ackman in His Fight Against Antisemitism

Musk Stands by Ackman

Billionaire Elon Musk has joined forces with Bill Ackman in his ongoing campaign against on-campus antisemitism. Musk, along with other business executives such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has taken a stand against antisemitism and expressed support for Ackman's cause.

Ackman, known for his active presence on X (formerly Twitter), has been using the platform to put pressure on US colleges regarding their handling of on-campus antisemitism. He recently published three open letters on the subject to his alma mater, Harvard. This caught the attention of Musk, who is the owner of the platform.

Musk's Call for Defunding Harvard

Musk publicly voiced his support for Ackman's cause by calling for the defunding of Harvard. He believes that defunding is the only effective way to address the issues he sees at the college. Musk's statement came in the midst of a controversy surrounding Harvard's president, Claudine Gay. Critics have called for her resignation following her controversial testimony on on-campus antisemitism, where she failed to condemn the genocide of Jews unequivocally.

Furthermore, Musk praised Ackman's open letter to Harvard, in which Ackman called for Gay's resignation. Musk commended Ackman for clearly expressing the concerns of many individuals. Ackman has faced accusations of racism for his criticism of Gay, but Musk defended him, stating that the accusations were baseless ad hominems.

Mutual Support

Musk's support for Ackman comes after Musk himself faced accusations of antisemitism. Musk had endorsed an X post that his critics deemed antisemitic but later apologized for it. His support for Ackman may be a way for him to express gratitude, as Ackman had previously defended Musk against allegations of antisemitism.

Musk's alignment with Ackman's stance on antisemitism puts him in the company of other business executives who have spoken out on the issue. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently expressed his surprise at the extent of antisemitism in the US, while Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla criticized the congressional testimonies of Gay and other college presidents as despicable.

The pressure exerted by influential figures in the business world, including Musk, could have significant consequences for colleges that heavily rely on donations. The University of Pennsylvania, Musk's alma mater, recently removed their president, Liz Magill, following pressure from the business school's advisory board and influential donors.

Harvard, however, has chosen to retain Gay as their president for now. It remains to be seen how long they can withstand the pressure from billionaires and their powerful allies if they continue to put their financial support behind the fight against antisemitism.

Representatives for Ackman and Musk have not yet responded to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider.

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By: ktan@businessinsider.com (Kwan Wei Kevin Tan)
Title: Elon Musk Supports Bill Ackman in His Fight Against Antisemitism
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/bill-ackman-antisemitism-crusade-earned-new-fan-elon-musk-2023-12
Published Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:54:28 +0000