Recently, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, directed sharp criticism toward George Soros following the announcement that President Biden would award the progressive financier the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Musk described the decision as a “travesty,” referencing Soros’s extensive financial backing of progressive politicians and initiatives throughout the United States.

In his comments, Musk acknowledged Soros’s strategic brilliance in areas such as finance and politics, but he lamented that Soros seemed to harbor animosity towards humanity, including Israel. Musk compared the medal's presentation to handing it to a fictional character, Emperor Palpatine from "Star Wars," and made light of Soros’s appearance in a jest about lighting in photographs. He also shared a critical screenshot from Soros's own website, which alleged that Soros's financial activities were contributing to a crisis regarding asylum seekers affecting both America and Europe.

Further emphasizing the controversy, Musk responded to remarks made by Italy’s Prime Minister, who indicated that Soros posed a greater threat to democracy than Musk himself. Musk affirmed this sentiment by stating that Soros was "being defeated." The criticism surrounding Soros extends beyond Musk, with others asserting that Biden’s decision to honor him disregards the struggles of crime victims exacerbated by policies supported by Soros and funded candidates. Critics argue that Soros’s financial influence has contributed to rising crime rates in urban areas through the support of liberal district attorneys advocating for significant changes in law enforcement policies.

Zack Smith from the Heritage Foundation articulated that the award undermines the significance of the honor and is perceived as a reward for one of the Left’s prominent donors amid widespread unrest regarding escalating crime linked to progressive legal reforms. As election season approaches, backlash against such policies has become evident, with numerous district attorneys facing defeat or recall in response to these issues.