Hollywood legend Robert De Niro went full throttle on MSNBC’s The 11th Hour on May 2, 2024, comparing former President Donald Trump to none other than Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. But wait—billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk wasn’t having it, jumping to Trump’s defense with a fiery clapback on X that’s got everyone picking sides. This showdown is pure fireworks, and we’re here to break it all down with a front-row seat.
De Niro, never one to hold back, unleashed a storm, calling Trump a “sick,” “narcissistic” “monster” who’d bring “chaos beyond our imagination” if re-elected. “Historically, from what I see, in Nazi Germany, they had it with Hitler,” he told host Stephanie Ruhle, warning that Trump’s clownish demeanor hides a dangerous edge. “They don’t take him seriously. ‘He looks like a clown. Acts like a clown.’ Mussolini. Same thing.” It’s the kind of bold, in-your-face talk that had jaws dropping and X users buzzing, with some, like @WesternLensman, slamming it as “leftwing propaganda churn.”
Enter Elon Musk, the X boss himself, who wasn’t about to let De Niro’s tirade slide. “Well, Trump was actually already president for 4 years and his policies bore no resemblance to those of Hitler, so this makes no sense,” Musk fired off on X, cool as a cucumber but sharp as a tack. He doubled down, pointing to Trump’s Abraham Accords, which brokered peace deals in the Middle East—hardly a Hitler move. “In fact, with the Abraham Accords, he made some progress towards peace in the Middle East, which was definitely not high on Hitler’s agenda,” Musk added, earning cheers from fans like @LeadingReport, who called it a “classy” takedown.
The internet’s a battlefield now. X posts are flying—some, like @VigilantFox, crown Musk the “Chief Troll Officer” for schooling De Niro, while others back De Niro’s dire warnings, with one user noting, “He’s not wrong about the danger.” Trump himself has jabbed at De Niro before, calling him a “total loser” last year, and Musk’s defense hints at his growing pro-Trump leanings, with X users like @eduardomenoni speculating, “Is Elon Musk leaning towards MAGA?” De Niro’s no stranger to anti-Trump rants—remember his 2018 Tony Awards “F— Trump” moment?—but Musk’s calm, fact-based rebuttal has shifted the spotlight.
So, what’s the deal? Is De Niro’s Hitler comparison a fair warning or unhinged hyperbole? Is Musk the voice of reason or just Team Trump’s newest cheerleader? This clash has us glued to our screens, hearts racing for the next move. Spill your thoughts—what side are you on in this Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley slugfest?
