Who is Elon Musk calling a ‘traitor’?
Musk’s Latest Wave of ‘Traitor’ Accusations Sparks Historical Reflection
Earthguardiansonline.com – Following a comprehensive discussion with Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor-in-chief of The Economist, Elon Musk took to his social platform to deliver a sharp critique. The conversation covered several contentious topics, including his backing of European far-right movements, his statements regarding Muslims, and reductions in humanitarian assistance while serving in the Trump administration. Once the interview concluded, Musk directed his criticism toward his interviewer, declaring her to be “a traitor to the West, plain and simple.”
According to Musk’s current worldview, the term applies broadly across society. He has suggested that opposing remigration qualifies someone as a traitor, as does failing to express love for America. His list of accused individuals extends beyond political figures to include Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. CNN has contacted Musk’s office for additional remarks on the matter.
Etymology and Historical Weight of the Term
CNN’s “Word of the Week” segment explores the origins and evolution of this frequently used label. The word “traitor” traces its lineage through Old French back to the Latin verb “trādēre,” which translates to “to hand over.” English speakers first encountered the term during the early 13th century, using it to characterize individuals who breached trust or failed in their assigned duties. By the century’s close, the definition had expanded to include betrayals directed at one’s sovereign or governing body.
Throughout history, being branded a traitor has carried significant stigma. Notable figures associated with this label include Marcus Junius Brutus, who participated in the conspiracy to murder Julius Caesar; Judas Iscariot, who sold out Jesus for thirty pieces of silver; Benedict Arnold, who misled George Washington and the Continental Army; and Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian military leader who worked alongside Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
Legal Foundations and Political Culture
Within legal frameworks, a traitor is someone convicted of treason, a crime sharing the same Latin root as “traitor” and entering English vocabulary around the same period. Article III of the United States Constitution provides a specific definition: treason consists solely of levying war against the nation or adhering to its enemies by providing them aid and comfort. Thomas Main, a Baruch College professor and author of “The Rise of Illiberalism,” explains that this limited scope represented a conscious effort by the Founding Fathers to influence political behavior.
In Federalist No. 43, James Madison cautioned against “new-fangled and artificial treasons” created by competing political groups to target each other during transitions of power. He noted that the constitutional convention wisely inserted a precise definition to prevent such abuses. Main observes that this approach aims to stop vague treason definitions from becoming tools in routine political disputes, though he argues the outcome has been a political environment less tolerant than liberal democracy ideally requires.
The ‘Race Traitor’ Concept Through Time
Despite these foundational efforts, Americans have historically applied the term more expansively. Many accusations have centered on racial allegiances. During the mid-20th century, segregationists and members of the Ku Klux Klan began using “race traitor” to describe white individuals who supported the Civil Rights Movement. Catherine Fosl, a historian and biographer of Anne Braden, notes that when Braden and her spouse purchased a home for a Black family in 1954, they received considerable hate mail employing this phrase.
Fosl explains that the term frequently appeared alongside accusations of socialism or communism, carrying the implication that these individuals were outsiders threatening traditional ways of life. Having also studied South African history, Fosl points out that the term functioned similarly in Musk’s homeland, where the government prosecuted Nelson Mandela and over 150 other anti-apartheid activists for treason in a lengthy trial that concluded with acquittals in 1961.
By the 1990s, the concept of the “race traitor” had become sufficiently embedded in American political conversation that certain left-wing activists adopted the term positively. In 1993, Noel Ignatiev, a former steelworker who became a scholar, and John Garvey, a cab driver turned educator, launched the publication “Race Traitor,” enthusiastically reclaiming what had once been an insult. As Garvey recalled, while not a common expression at the time, it carried considerable meaning for those who embraced it.
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