Elon Musk’s Twitter Feud with NPR Reaches a New Level

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is known for his social media presence and occasional Twitter feuds. His latest target is National Public Radio (NPR), which he accused of being biased and spreading misinformation. The feud escalated when Musk tweeted that NPR stands for “National Petroleum Radio.”

The incident started when NPR published an article on the safety of Tesla’s autopilot system, which is designed to assist drivers with steering, braking, and acceleration. The article referenced a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that found that Tesla’s autopilot system was involved in a fatal crash in Texas in April 2021. The article also included comments from safety experts who raised concerns about the system’s reliability.

Musk took issue with the article and accused NPR of being “relentlessly negative” towards Tesla. He argued that the article was biased and failed to acknowledge the positive impact that Tesla’s electric vehicles and renewable energy projects have on the environment.

NPR responded by defending its reporting and pointing out that it has covered Tesla’s positive contributions to the environment in the past. The public radio station also noted that it has a responsibility to report on the potential risks and challenges associated with new technologies, including self-driving cars.

The Twitter feud continued with Musk accusing NPR of being influenced by the oil and gas industry, hence his “National Petroleum Radio” comment. NPR fired back, stating that it has no ties to the fossil fuel industry and that its reporting is based on facts and rigorous journalism standards.

This is not the first time that Musk has gotten into a Twitter feud with a media outlet. In 2018, he accused the media of being dishonest and suggested that he would start a new media platform to provide “credibility score” for journalists. However, he later abandoned the idea.

While Musk’s Twitter feuds may be entertaining, they also highlight the growing tension between tech innovators and the media. As technology continues to disrupt traditional industries, journalists and tech leaders are increasingly at odds over how to report on and regulate new technologies.