Elon Musk and his businesses have faced one of the toughest weeks in recent years. From financial losses and cyberattacks to spaceflight failures and political disputes, it seems that if anything could go wrong, it did. Tesla has been the target of attacks and protests, Tesla X fell under a cyberattack, Starship exploded during its test flight, and Musk has argued with Rubio.
Wall Street and Public Backlash Against Tesla
Tesla has found itself at the center of protests due to Musk’s perceived influence over budget cuts in the Trump administration. The week started with Tesla shares plummeting 15% on Monday, reflecting investors’ concerns. While the stock has partially recovered, the company’s market stability remains uncertain.
Beyond the financial downturn, Tesla has also been a target of vandalism and attacks. According to ABC News, several Tesla facilities and vehicles were damaged, raising concerns about security and brand reputation. The situation escalated when former President Donald Trump weighed in, labeling the protestors as “domestic terrorists” and warning of severe consequences for those responsible.
X Under Cyberattack
Musk’s social media platform, X, experienced significant disruptions on May 11 due to a large-scale cyberattack. Musk confirmed the incident, describing it as a “massive attack” that required substantial resources, likely from a well-organized group or even a nation-state.
Wired reported that a pro-Palestinian hacker group, Dark Storm Team, claimed responsibility via Telegram. However, Musk’s speculation about Ukrainian involvement was debunked by cybersecurity experts. Their analysis revealed that some X servers lacked sufficient security layers against DDoS attacks, leaving them vulnerable to such incidents.
Starship’s Unsuccessful Test Flight
SpaceX’s ambitious Starship project faced another setback with the failure of its eighth test flight. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic, mirroring the outcome of the previous launch. The debris from the explosion disrupted air traffic over Florida and the Caribbean, impacting over 240 commercial flights.
Adding to Musk’s woes, the Crew-10 mission was aborted just 40 minutes before launch. This mission was intended to send a replacement crew to the International Space Station (ISS) and return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner. If all goes according to plan, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon capsule and crew will launch on March 14.
Political Tensions in Washington
Musk’s influence within the Trump administration appears to be on shaky ground. A notable confrontation occurred during a White House meeting where Musk clashed with key Republican figures, including Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, over federal budget cuts.
According to The New York Times, Musk suggested substantial cuts to federal programs, including those related to the Department of Transportation. Rubio openly criticized Musk’s proposals, calling them “ignorant” and accusing him of prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare.
A Challenging Week for Musk
While setbacks are not uncommon for high-profile entrepreneurs, the convergence of financial losses, cyberattacks, failed space missions, and political disputes has made this a particularly grueling week for Musk. As his companies navigate these challenges, only time will tell how he and his ventures will recover from this streak of misfortune.