Political operative Rick Wilson, best known for co-founding the Lincoln Project and his deep hostility toward President Donald Trump, has lost his platform on X following a post that many took as inciting violence. The headline of the post, “Kill Tesla, Save The Country,” caused immediate backlash from critics and led to his account being suspended and then permanently banned.
The post’s image of a burning Tesla Cybertruck placed outside the Trump International Hotel raised concerns about the intent of Wilson’s message. Paired with the phrase “Elon has a weak spot. Attack,” the post quickly caught fire across social media and was called out by figures like Libs of TikTok.
https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/190246169393198290
Initially, X placed Wilson under a 30-day suspension. He was offered a chance to delete the post and return sooner but instead doubled down, mocked the criticism and refused to comply. As a result, the suspension became permanent.
Elon Musk publicly responded to the controversy, calling Wilson “a psycho.” Wilson, in turn, continued to mock Musk and his followers, publishing a vulgar video and meme that he labeled as his “appeal.”
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed rising incidents targeting Tesla property, classifying them as acts of domestic terrorism. She said that multiple people had already been charged and that authorities are investigating those behind the scenes supporting the violence.
Wilson’s writing has long included aggressive language. In his article, he described Tesla as a company serving fascists and mocked Musk’s ambitions. While Wilson insisted the message was about financial activism, his history with incendiary commentary painted a different picture.
The Lincoln Project, launched in 2019, was formed by Wilson and other ex-GOP figures opposed to President Donald Trump. One of its founding members, John Weaver, was later accused of sexually harassing young men, which further damaged the group’s standing.
Another one of Wilson’s recent Substack posts referred to Musk as a coward and included a profanity-filled rant along with a meme of Bruce Springsteen making an obscene gesture.
