Summary
- Scott Galloway’s comparison of Elon Musk to executed spies drew accusations that he was encouraging politically motivated violence.
- Boom Supersonic’s CEO sought to buy out his investment, while critics challenged his continued media platform.
- A separate claim that he defecated in his Tesla before selling it drew criticism over whom the alleged act would actually hurt.
A treason accusation brings execution into the argument
Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business, has drawn criticism for his attacks on Elon Musk extending beyond a dispute over the billionaire’s politics. Critics say his invocation of executed spies suggests violent punishment for a political opponent, while a separate story about defecating in his own Tesla has prompted questions about the conduct he was celebrating.
During a live Pivot discussion with Kara Swisher, Galloway called Musk a “traitor to the West” and invoked Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. He argued that admiration for wealthy innovators allowed them to escape standards applied to others.
Galloway’s argument concerned Musk’s control over Starlink and reports about restrictions on service in Ukraine. He used a hypothetical about Charles Lindbergh controlling military aviation technology before invoking the Rosenbergs and demanding equivalent standards for traitors.
The National Archives records that the Rosenbergs were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage in 1951 and executed in June 1953.
Criticism reaches investors and television platforms
Boom Supersonic chief executive Blake Scholl interpreted the remarks as a call for Musk’s death. In a November 9 television interview, he said political disagreement was acceptable but rhetoric invoking violence crossed a line, citing the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Scholl said he was arranging for investors to buy Galloway’s shares and expected an amicable separation. He argued that a business founder should not have to work for the profit of an investor who used that rhetoric. The interview did not establish that a share transfer had closed.
Katie Miller separately questioned why CNN continued giving Galloway a platform after the remarks. Her criticism targeted the broadcaster’s judgment, broadening the dispute from what Galloway intended to how institutions responded to his language.
The Tesla story draws criticism over the eventual buyer
In a separate live Pivot episode recorded in Los Angeles on November 6, Galloway said he had owned a Tesla, liked the car and sold it after Musk began attacking him online. He then claimed he defecated in the passenger seat before selling it, twice presenting the account as true. Swisher joked about its effect on resale value.
The episode establishes what Galloway said, but does not independently verify the act, the sale or the car’s condition when transferred.
Commentator Mary Katharine Ham criticized both soiling one’s belongings and then selling them, questioning Galloway’s reputation as a moderate intellectual. Scott Jennings likewise focused on the person who allegedly received the car. Their objections concerned the consequences for a buyer, rather than any demonstrated financial harm to Musk.
Related Reading
- Galloway’s extended Rosenberg comparison
- Blake Scholl’s interview on the proposed share buyout
- Pivot episode transcript: Tesla remark at 1:06:04
- Criticism from Katie Miller and Mary Katharine Ham
- Scott Jennings’ response to the Tesla story
- National Archives: Rosenberg convictions and executions
- Under The Fold: Campus attacks and political threats
- Under The Fold: Political pressure on Musk and X
