Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
indy100
indy100
National
Sinead Butler

Elon Musk calls Elizabeth Warren ‘Senator Karen’ in volley of tweets after she said he should pay more tax

Some Twitter beef has well and truly kicked off between Elon Musk and Senator Elizabeth Warren - as the billionaire called her “Senator Karen” after she accused him of “freeloading off everyone else,” and said he should pay more tax.

Musk was recently announced as Time’s Person of the Year for 2021, which some critics called “the worst choice ever” due to his tax affairs, his opposition to unions and downplaying the Covid pandemic, The Guardian reported.

It appears Warren was also not best pleased when she heard the news and took to Twitter to slam the Space X and Tesla CEO, accusing him of “freeloading off everyone else” thanks to the “rigged tax code” which she wants to change.

“Let’s change the rigged tax code so The Person of the Year will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else,” she tweeted.

Those were words that Musk didn’t take kindly to and so he responded and told Warren to “Stop projecting!” along with sharing a Fox News article titled: “Elizabeth Warren is a fraud -- Her lies about being Native American disqualify her from presidency, Senate.”

Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter

As you can guess from the title, not exactly a gleaming article about Warren - which claims that she lied about having Native American heritage.

In 2019, Warren apologised to the Native American community for overstating her Native American heritage, The Independent reported. “I am sorry for harm I have caused. I have listened and I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the many conversations that we’ve had together,” she said.

In another tweet, the 50-year-old took another shot at Warren and added: “You remind me of when I was a kid and my friend’s angry mom would just randomly yell at everyone for no reason.”

Not quite finished, he joked: “Please don’t call the manager on me, Senator Karen.”

(If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, the term “Karen” is used to describe a rude, racist, middle-class white woman who uses her privilege to belittle and intimidate others and is often associated with wanting to “speak to the manager” when things don’t go their way in a shop or restaurant for example.)

A few hours later, and obviously still irked by Warren’s comment, Musk came back with some further responses, and told the Senator: “And if you opened your eyes for 2 seconds, you would realize I will pay more taxes than any American in history this year.”

(Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that Musk is the richest man in the world...)

Before he concluded things with a not-so-subtle dig at government spending: “Don’t spend it all at once ... oh wait you already did.”

The responses from Musk to Warren certainly gained the attention of people on Twitter.

Many weren’t impressed with Musk’s latest round of tweets and some argued that he wasn’t using the term “Karen” in the correct context.

While others defended Musk over making the most out of the tax loopholes that Warren criticised him for using, and loved the “Senator Karen” zinger.

Musk has also been defended by none other than Piers Morgan who said that while Musk isn’t “isn’t everyone’s cup of tea,” those criticising TIME’s decision are “whiny woke wastrels” who are “throwing their toys out of their strollers.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
I tried the viral microwave makeup sponge cleaning hack and won't be doing it again – here's what works better instead
The method was inefficient, potentially dangerous, and my sponge looked the same as before
Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Rufus Wainwright: ‘I had a great party trick, but it once blew up in my face’
The singer-songwriter on his most memorable fan, his love of Chappell Roan, and his close friend and nemesis Jake Shears
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Will there be an Arcane season 3? Here's what the creators have said about what's coming next
A look ahead to League of Legends' on-screen future
Total Film
Total Film
I Tried Lab-Grown Salmon. Here's What It Tasted Like.
Cultivated meat is getting better and better. That's why states keep trying to ban it.
Reason
Reason
Beatles songs "imprinted" on Paul Reiser
On "Everything Fab Four," he discusses his new comedy special, working with Michael McDonald and visiting Liverpool
Salon
Salon
Best tinted serums to get your skin glowing
The ultra-lightweight base product packed with skin-loving ingredients
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play