Salman Rushdie Criticizes Elon Musk's Free Speech Record

In a recent interview with El País at the Hay Festival in Colombia, Salman Rushdie criticized Elon Musk, claiming that he undermines free speech rather than promoting it. Rushdie accused Musk of curating discourse in favor of the extreme right on his social media platform, X, and expressed his wish for Musk to 'just leave.' He humorously referenced a past encounter where Musk predicted it would take seven years to reach Mars, stating that the time has passed, and he would like Musk to be the first man on Mars. The author emphasized that appropriating the concept of free expression while acting contrary to it is dishonest. Additionally, Rushdie discussed broader societal issues, including declining cultural values like tolerance and empathy, particularly in the context of rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Despite his criticisms, he reflected on his own dual immigrant experience and its impact on culture.