‘It’s pointless’: Elon Musk rehashes ‘joke’ about Kamala Harris assassination in interview with Tucker Carlson

Elon Musk has doubled down on his comments about assassinating Kamala Harris, laughing with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson about the odds of an attempt on the Vice President or Joe Biden’s life.

At the start of an almost two-hour web video interview with the controversial TV host, posted to X, the eccentric tech billionaire revisited his thoughts about political assassinations.

He said it would be “pointless” to kill Ms Harris or President Biden, a sentiment Carlson agreed with.

“I made a joke, which I realised — I deleted — which is like: nobody’s even bothering to try to kill Kamala because it’s pointless. What do you achieve?” Musk put to Carlson at the start of the one hour and 48 minute exchange.

Between their giggles at the line, Carlson said “It’s deep and true, though”.

“Just buy another puppet,” Musk said. He continued: “Nobody’s tried to kill Joe Biden. It’d be pointless.”

“Totally,” Carlson said.

Musk first posted comments about political assassinations after a second suspected attempt on former US Donald Trump’s life at his West Palm Beach golf course on September 15. In July, a gunman was killed after shooting at Mr Trump during a Pennsylvania rally.

In response to an X user who asked why Mr Trump was being targeted, Musk — who has been a vocal supporter of the Republican candidate’s re-election campaign — wrote “no one’s even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala” with a confused emoji.

His comment was met with widespread backlash, with some users taking it as a form of incitement. It sparked some users to post the hashtag #DeportElonMusk (the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is from South Africa). The Secret Service said it was “aware” of the post.

After removing the initial post, Musk wrote he “learned” that “just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X”.

“Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text.”

Authorities have made multiple arrests of individuals who have made death threats against Ms Harris and Mr Biden. In August, Frank Carillo from Virginia was charged with making threats against the US leaders in “thousands of posts” in online forums.

When prompted by Carlson to elaborate on the post Musk did not refute claims he was calling for the Vice President’s assassination.

“Some people interpreted it as though I was calling for people to assassinate her, but I was like doesn’t it seem strange that no one’s even bothered to try?” he said, laughing at himself.

“It’s not worth it,” Carlson added, calling Ms Harris a “marionette”.

“Nobody tries to assassinate a puppet,” Musk said through giggles. “She’s safe.”

The interview started with Carlson suggesting the billionaire was “f...ed, dude” if Mr Trump lost the election. Musk agreed: “If he loses, I’m f...ed.”

Turning toward the crew (heard laughing off-camera), Musk continued: “How long do you think my prison sentence is going to be?”

“I have no plausible deniability,” Musk added, prompting Carlson to double over in his chair laughing.

“No, no, and I’ve been trashing Kamala non-stop.”

The billionaire’s comments come days after he appeared on stage with Mr Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania — the site of the first assassination attempt on July 13.

Musk brushed off Carlson’s question whether the former President seemed “rattled” by the attempts on his life: “I mean, he has the constitution of an ox.”

“He seemed of sound mind and body and strong backbone,” he said, after quipping that his perseverance was not down to “working out and eating healthy”.

“He [Trump] eats cheeseburgers and diet coke and stuff... I think he inherently has a strong constitution.”

Musk has hosted his own interview with the Republican candidate on X. Mr Trump has said he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if he became president again.