LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman ‘really did say’ he wished Donald Trump had been killed; Elon Musk shares 'proof'

Elon Musk

• Elon Musk shared Reid Hoffman's controversial remark about Trump.
• Hoffman clarified his comment was dark humour, not a literal wish for violence
• Musk's post reignited debate on political speech by tech leaders

Did our AI summary help?

Elon Musk has drawn fresh attention to a controversial remark made by Reid Hoffman after sharing a post on X that referenced the comment in the context of the recent assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump.

In the post, Musk wrote, “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.” Musk shared the statement while quoting a post that included a screenshot from a July 2024 discussion held at the Sun Valley conference, an annual gathering attended by influential technology executives and investors.

The screenshot captured an exchange between Hoffman and venture capitalist Peter Thiel, who has publicly supported Trump. During the conversation, Thiel sarcastically thanked Hoffman for funding legal actions against Trump, suggesting that the lawsuits had turned Trump into a political “martyr” and helped strengthen his electoral position.

Hoffman responded by saying, “Yeah, I wish I had made him an actual martyr.” While the remark was described at the time by people present as sarcastic and made during a heated political discussion, it resurfaced days after the assassination attempt on Trump, triggering widespread criticism.

Following the backlash in 2024, Hoffman clarified that his comment was not a literal wish for violence and was intended as dark humour aimed at criticising Trump and Thiel’s political alignment. Despite the clarification, the remark continued to circulate online, particularly among critics who argued that such language was inappropriate regardless of intent.

Musk’s decision to reshare the screenshot has renewed scrutiny of the exchange and amplified debate around political speech by influential technology leaders. The post has also reignited discussion about how comments made in closed-door forums can resurface years later and take on new significance amid changing political circumstances.

Separately, Hoffman has previously argued that technology leaders should not remain neutral during periods of political instability, warning that silence does not shield companies or individuals from long-term consequences. Musk’s post has now placed those past remarks back into the public spotlight.