Elon Musk is back in the news on the basis of a controversial remark made by Reid Hoffman. Musk wrote on X, “Just a reminder that Reid Hoffman really did say in a public forum that he wished President Trump had been killed in the assassination attempt.” The post quoted content shared by Katie Miller, a former advisor to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and included a screenshot from a July 2024 discussion.
The screenshot shared by Musk came from a July 2024 discussion at the Sun Valley Conference, an annual gathering attended by influential technology executives and investors. During the session, Hoffman was engaged in a public exchange with venture capitalist Peter Thiel, who has openly supported Trump.
Just a reminder that Reid Hoffman really did say in a public forum that he wished President Trump had been killed in the assassination attempt https://t.co/rc596IOVjJ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2026
Thiel sarcastically thanked Hoffman for funding legal actions against Trump, claiming that the lawsuits had turned Trump into a political “martyr” and helped strengthen his chances of re-election.
“I am so grateful to you,” Thiel said from the stage. Hoffman responded with his own sarcastic remark, saying, “Yeah, I wish I had made him an actual martyr.” The exchange ended shortly after, leaving the audience visibly uncomfortable.
Backlash after the assassination attempt
Days after the Sun Valley discussion, an assassination attempt on Trump took place. Following this event, Hoffman’s comment resurfaced online and led to massive criticism. Many critics argued that regardless of intent, the language used was inappropriate given the seriousness of political violence. A July 2024 article described the moment as “the dagger” and “a twist of the knife,” explaining how sharply the remark landed during the exchange.
Hoffman’s clarification on the remark
After facing backlash in 2024, Hoffman clarified that his statement was not a literal wish for violence. He explained that the comment was intended as dark humour aimed at criticising Trump and Thiel’s political alignment, not as an endorsement of harm. Regardless of this clarification, the quote continued to circulate widely online, particularly among critics who argued that such language was unacceptable from influential public figures, regardless of context.
Musk’s post renews public scrutiny
Musk’s decision to reshare the screenshot has renewed scrutiny of the exchange and amplified debate around political speech by prominent technology leaders. The post has also reignited discussion about how comments made in closed-door or elite forums can resurface years later and take on new meaning amid changing political circumstances.