Elon Musk and RFK Jr. Criticize VP Kamala Harris Amid Political Turmoil

Musk and Kennedy Jr. Question Harris's Leadership and Legitimacy

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency sector, alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a pro-Bitcoin presidential candidate, have recently voiced sharp criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris. This criticism follows President Biden's resignation as the Democratic nominee, a move that has intensified political discussions and speculation.

Musk expressed doubts about Harris’s rise to prominence, questioning the transparency and fairness of the process. In a series of posts on X, Musk said, "About 3 weeks ago, the media told you that Biden was ‘sharp as a tack.’ 2 days ago, the poor guy was basically forced at gunpoint to resign as Dem nominee. His staff weren’t even informed. Now they say Kamala is the best thing ever." He further questioned, "Shouldn’t the nominee be decided by a party vote? Democracy etc …"

RFK Jr.'s Critique on Harris's Policies

At a recent press conference, RFK Jr. criticized Harris’s policies, particularly her stance on foreign affairs and her record on civil rights and economic issues. Kennedy labeled Harris a “corporate hawk,” accusing her of aggressive policies on Ukraine and China. He stated, “Kamala Harris is the party of war. She’s a war hawk on Ukraine. She’s a war hawk on China. I think we should be figuring out ways to coexist with the rest of the world as best we can.” He also highlighted controversial decisions she made as California's attorney general, suggesting they undermined her credibility.

Elon Musk echoed these sentiments, calling Harris “just another corpo puppet.”

Defense of the Political Process

In response to Musk’s criticism, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko defended the current political structure, emphasizing the role of the Vice President and the democratic process. Yakovenko argued, “VPs job is to step into the president’s shoes at any moment. People voted for the Biden/Harris ticket, Biden chose to step down, Harris stepped up. Direct democracy has a ton of corner cases and is fragile. That’s why we have representative democracy instead.” He further explained that Biden released his delegates, who then re-pledged to Harris, aligning with the voters' wishes.

Calls for SEC Chair Gensler’s Dismissal

The cryptocurrency community has seized this moment to push for significant regulatory changes, particularly targeting SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Industry leaders are urging Harris to distance herself from the current administration’s policies. Bitcoin Conference CEO David Bailey mentioned discussions with Harris’s campaign about her potential appearance at an upcoming conference, viewing it as a strategic move to engage with the crypto community.

Tyler Winklevoss expressed skepticism, stating, “Talk is cheap. She would need to start by immediately firing Gary Gensler, withdrawing all SEC enforcement actions against good actors, and ending Operation Choknt 2.0.” Similarly, Justin Slaughter, Paradigm Policy Director, suggested Harris has a unique opportunity to reset her relationship with various industries, advocating for innovation and new staffing at key agencies.

Former Coinbase executive Balaji Srinivasan was more direct, calling for immediate action against Gensler. “She’s essentially the acting President as Biden is a lame duck. So as concrete actions she should immediately fire Gensler, end the Biden assault on AI, and repudiate the unrealized capital gains tax.” He emphasized the need for substantial changes over mere gestures, insisting that without firing Gensler and repealing the AI ban, any promises would lack credibility.

Conclusion

As political dynamics shift in the wake of Biden’s resignation, Elon Musk and RFK Jr.'s criticisms of Kamala Harris have spotlighted broader debates about leadership, policy direction, and regulatory changes in the cryptocurrency sector. The calls for significant actions, such as the dismissal of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, reflect the industry's demand for a more favorable regulatory environment and responsive leadership.