Elon Musk’s cryptic post sparks debate amid protests

On Saturday, millions across the U.S. joined "No Kings" protests, opposing President Donald Trump’s leadership during a military parade for his birthday and the Army’s 250th anniversary. The demonstrations, mostly peaceful, criticized Trump’s policies and style, though some cities saw violence, like a car attack in Virginia and a shooting in Utah.

Late Sunday, Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX, shared a mysterious post on his platform X. He posted a quote from the video game BioShock: “No gods or kings, only man,” alongside an image of the game’s character Andrew Ryan, who champions individualism in a fictional city. Musk added, “Anyone else think of this yesterday?” The timing, right after the protests, led many to wonder if he was subtly criticizing Trump or the protesters.

Musk and Trump recently had a public falling out, with Musk calling a Trump-backed budget bill a “disgusting abomination.” Trump responded by saying Musk had “lost his mind” and threatened to cancel his government contracts. Some believe Musk’s post reflects his belief in human potential, tied to his space exploration goals, while others see it as a jab at Trump’s leadership. Musk hasn’t clarified his intent, leaving room for guesses. His post, paired with a SpaceX Starship video, stirred online chatter, with some asking if he was joining the protests. The debate continues as people try to decode Musk’s message.