Why Elon Musk told Vinod Khosla to 'stop being so deranged about Trump'

Elon Musk

Billionaire venture capitalist and investor Vinod Khosla criticized Independent White House candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to drop out of the U.S. presidential race and endorse former President Donald Trump.

Khosla's reaction to Kennedy Jr.'s decision on X sparked a sharp response from Elon Musk, who wrote: "Vinod, please stop being so deranged about Trump."

Khosla had posted slamming Kennedy: "it is a FEDERAL CRIME to promise a post in an administration in exchange for a candidate endorsement. So of course convicted felon Donald Trump got RFK Jr. to endorse him. And of course former prosecutor Kamala Harris declined to meet with RFK Jr. Birds of the low values kind flock together."

Kennedy Jr. made a surprise appearance at a rally in Arizona on Friday, joining Republican nominee Donald Trump after dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing the former president.

it is a FEDERAL CRIME to promise a post in an administration in exchange for a candidate endorsement. So of course convicted felon Donald Trump got RFK Jr. to endorse him. And of course former prosecutor Kamala Harris declined to meet with RFK Jr. Birds of the low values kind https://t.co/rKqjD8YnWb

Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) August 24, 2024

Kennedy, who initially launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat, said he was inspired by "the party of my father, my uncle... the champions of the Constitution." However, he explained that he left the party because "it had become the party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, big money."

Before bringing Kennedy to the stage on Friday, Trump vowed that if re-elected, he would release all remaining classified documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy's wife, Cheryl Hines, star of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, expressed her support for her husband’s decision to suspend his campaign on X, but she did not comment on his decision to endorse Trump.

Kennedy Jr. posted on X expressing gratitude for his wife who supported him over his decision: "I am so grateful to my amazing wife Cheryl for her unconditional love, as I made a political decision with which she is very uncomfortable. I wish this also for the country — love and unity even in the face of disagreement. We will need that in coming times."

Cheryl Hines had written on X: "The decision has been made to suspend my husband's, Robert Kennedy Jr.'s, presidency and I'd like to extend a sincere, deeply heartfelt thank you to every person who has worked so tirelessly and lovingly on his campaign. They have accomplished feats that were said to be impossible. They have gathered over a million signatures, more than any candidate in history, and have achieved ballot access across the country despite the roadblocks and lawsuits that have been brought against them for the sole purpose of keeping Bobby off of the ballots so no one would even have the opportunity to vote for him. I deeply respect the decision Bobby made to run on the principle of unity. Over the last year and a half, I have met some extraordinary people from all parties — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. It's been my experience that the vast majority of all parties are truly good people who want the best for our country and for each other. It has been an eye-opening, transformative, and endearing journey."