Elon doesn't think things through

[As embarrassing as the fluffing is, I suppose we should be happy Grok isn't up to something worse.]

 Elon Musk does deserve what we have to call “credit,” for lack of a better word, for his role in all this. His comments about the Epstein files, made at the height of the Trump–Musk feud, played a non-trivial role in getting this ball moving. Musk also deserves credit for shooting himself in the foot in the most satisfying way possible.

Mike Pearl writing for Gizmodo:

 

“No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened,” Elon Musk

Sorry but “misinterpreted”? Even if you do your absolute damndest to read this guy’s freshly released Epstein emails in a positive light, what you get is the story of a tech tycoon stating unambiguously that he wanted to attend an absolute rager on a sex criminal’s private island.

“What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” Elon Musk asked Jeffrey Epstein on on Nov. 25, 2012. 

In 2019, Musk told Vanity Fair that in their past interactions, he had detected that Epstein was “obviously a creep.” Indeed, it wouldn’t have taken much sleuthing to pick up on this attribute of Epstein’s back in 2012. He already had a conviction on his record at the time for soliciting prostitution, and it was also widely reported in the media that the prostitution conviction stemmed from a generous plea bargain, and that the charges Epstein had been facing included sexual relations with minors.

So with that in mind, here’s what Musk and Epstein wrote as they attempted to make plans in 2012 for Musk to visit Epstein’s island with British actress Talulah Riley, Musk’s wife at the time (typos and other text issues are left intact. I don’t want to be accused of misinterpreting):

Epstein: you are welcome to stay or just come for the day, plenty of rroom i will=send heli to get you

Musk: Do you have any parties planned? I’ve been working to the edge of sanity th=s year and so, once my kids head home after Christmas, I really want to hi= the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose. The invitation is=much appreciated, but a peaceful island experience is the opposite of what=l’m looking for.

Epstein: Understood, , I will see you on st Barth, the ratio on my island might m=ke Talilah uncomfortable

Musk: Ratio is not a problem for Talulah

It may be true that Musk declined one or more invitations to visit, but he also tried to make plans to visit multiple times. In addition to the aforementioned change, he emailed Epstein on December 14, 2013 saying he was going to be in the Virgin Islands “over the holidays,” and asked “Is there a good time to visit?” In my opinion it sort of undermines the inherent morality of rejecting offers to be taken to Epstein’s island if you also repeatedly attempt to visit Epstein’s island.

This all raises the obvious question: why in the hell, given what Musk should have known was in the Epstein files, would he bring this up in the first place?

I have no special knowledge here, but I have spent over a decade now following the misadventures of Musk and the other tech saviors of greater Silicon Valley, and based on that, here is my take. Elon Musk is vindictive and childish, lacking impulse control and displaying a level of narcissism that often qualifies as a messianic delusion. Add to that, along with Donald Trump, he has often proven himself to be one of the luckiest sons of bitches in recorded history.

I don't think that most commentators realized how hot and deep feelings ran during the feud. It is essential to consider the context of the New York Times exposé, which, among other things, confirmed that the man was an out-of-control drug addict. That article was obviously based not just on leaks but on actual recordings taken in the White House. Musk's enemies in the administration clearly dropped the dime on him, possibly with the permission of Trump himself.

Musk has a long history of lashing out at even minor slights and holding grudges for decades. I assume most of you remember his absurd overreaction when he was criticized by one of the actual heroes of the Thai cave rescue. Those more familiar with the biography will remember the twenty-year-and-counting vendetta against the actual founders of Tesla and a proclivity for totally irrational rage firings, often based on nothing more than employees crossing their CEO's line of sight when he happened to be angry.

Add to his humiliation from the New York Times piece the possibility of chemically induced mood swings and a history of getting away with countless lies and shady deals, and it's not difficult to imagine the world's richest man not realizing the consequences of his actions.