In one more step in his heated and playful verbal exchange with Nicolás Maduro, mogul Elon Musk has promised to take the Venezuelan leader on a donkey to "Gitmo," the abbreviation for the detention camp at Guantanamo Naval Base.
"I'm coming for you, Maduro. I'll take you to 'Gitmo' on a donkey," tweeted Musk this Thursday.
The owner of X published his message along with a video showing how the Venezuelan ruler gives direct orders to his security forces to stop and arrest those who are protesting in Venezuela.
In the dialogue, one of the members of the forces tells the leader that they have captured two people who allegedly confessed that they were paid 50 dollars to join the protests of thousands of Venezuelans who are demanding against the electoral fraud of July 28.
In a scene that seems to have been staged, Maduro immediately asks, "Who paid you?"; to which the police officer replies, "I don't have that information."
"This area has been very violent and full of riots. I am very glad that you are protecting the people. These are criminals; we have captured more than 1,200 criminals," said Maduro, who then suggested that those protesting against his government "are trained in Texas and Colombia."
"They trained them to come and attack, to burn. They tried to burn that hospital and the community and you prevented it. 'Is that protest? Is that political struggle?' he questioned."
The police officer responded: "Terrorism," to which Maduro added: "That is fascism. Those people are not prepared to govern this country. I am in combat and I count on you."
Musk's post has gone viral on X in recent hours, garnering hundreds of reactions to the crisis in Venezuela, as well as opposition to Maduro's repression using armed forces against the population, who are demanding that the electoral records that would declare Edmundo González the winner be shown.
Elon Musk, the number one enemy of Maduro
After publicly supporting opposition leader María Corina Machado, billionaire Elon Musk has recently become the "public enemy" number one of Nicolás Maduro's regime, which even accused him of wanting to "invade Venezuela."
According to Maduro, "social networks create a virtual reality," and he claimed that this "virtual reality is controlled by our new arch-enemy, the famous and desperate Elon Musk."
"He would like to come with his rockets and an army to invade Venezuela. Elon Musk, thank goodness you showed your face, because we knew you were behind it all, Elon Musk, with your money, with your satellites," accused Maduro, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX.
Maduro even challenged Musk to a fight in the purest schoolyard style.
"Control yourself, because [your tweets] are going to lead you to failure, just like this right-wing has led all American politicians to failure. Elon Musk, who messes with me, dries up; whoever messes with Venezuela, dries up. Elon Musk, do you want a fight? Let's go, Elon Musk, I'm ready. I am the son of Bolívar and Chávez. I'm not afraid of you, Elon Musk, let's do this. Wherever you want. As we say in Caracas, in the neighborhoods, if you want, I want, Elon Musk. Just say where."
The video clip was shared by Musk himself on his X profile, accompanied by a crushing phrase: "The donkey knows more than Maduro." "Sorry for comparing the poor donkey to Maduro. It's an insult to the animal world," the billionaire later added.
In another brief message posted on X, Musk confirmed that he accepted the challenge.
"If I win, he will resign as dictator of Venezuela. If he wins, I will give him a free trip to Mars," wrote the businessman, fueling a verbal battle that promises to further ignite the fuse of a political crisis that is currently at its peak.
Maduro responded: "He accepted the challenge. Let's go for it, but come over here. If I win, I'll accept the trip to Mars, but you’re coming with me." He said nothing about the condition of resigning if he lost.
In the midst of the exchange of jabs and invitations with the South African businessman, this Wednesday Maduro lost his government entity verification on the social network X (the gray checkmark).
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