Political commentator Kyle Kulinski stirred up strong reactions online after declaring that the widespread belief in Elon Musk as a brilliant innovator is not just wrong—it’s “embarrassing.”
“The myth of Elon as a mega-genius has been so thoroughly debunked that it’s embarrassing anybody believed it in the first place,” Kulinski wrote on X on Monday.
Online Reactions
Reactions to Kulinski’s post were swift and passionate. Musk’s supporters pointed to his accomplishments in business and space technology. “Not believing Elon is a genius is not only ignorant but shows envy,” one person wrote.
Another added, “If he isn’t a mega genius, it makes what he has accomplished more impressive and an inspiration for others to follow.”
But many users backed Kulinski’s criticism. “Finally someone says it out loud,” one supporter posted. Another commented, “He never invented anything, just bought the company or idea and tried to claim it as his own creation.”
Some shared they had once admired Musk but changed their minds. “I believed it until he started using Twitter. My faith in institutions like TED which platformed him uncritically was shaken,” one person wrote.
Wealth vs. Genius
The debate highlighted a bigger question about how society views intelligence and success. Some argued that being wealthy doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a genius.
“Americans confuse wealth and genius,” one commenter said. Another chimed in, “Need to debunk why intelligence is not correlated with net worth next.”
Still, others pointed to Musk’s ability to hire and lead top-tier teams as proof of intelligence in itself. “Stupid people don’t usually get rich, and almost certainly none of them will become the richest person in the world,” a user wrote.
Political Spotlight: Musk in Wisconsin
Kulinski’s post gained traction just as Musk made headlines for a controversial political appearance in Wisconsin. Wearing a classic cheesehead hat, Musk took the stage at a packed event in Green Bay to promote Republican Brad Schimel in the state’s record-breaking Supreme Court race.
Musk defended giving out million-dollar checks to two Wisconsinites who signed a petition opposing what his America PAC called “partisan” judges. “It’s to call attention” to the importance of the race, Musk told the crowd.
“It’s a super big deal,” he added, arguing the election could affect “the entire destiny of humanity” by influencing future congressional outcomes.
The giveaways—$1 million each—sparked immediate controversy and drew legal scrutiny. Wisconsin’s Democratic Attorney General Joshua Kaul asked the state Supreme Court to block them, arguing they might violate election laws that ban financial incentives tied to voting. But the court declined to intervene, allowing Musk to follow through with the awards.
Despite the backlash, Musk was welcomed by a crowd of about 2,000 and cheered throughout the event, especially when he criticized government spending, called to “end the Fed,” and defended his unpaid advisory role to President Donald Trump.
Protesters gathered outside chanting “Elon Musk has got to go” and holding signs that read “Wisconsin is not for sale.”
Musk’s appearance, big-dollar donations, and ongoing lawsuit over Tesla’s ability to open dealerships in the state have made him a key figure in what’s become the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history—with over $80 million spent.
Loud, Divided Reactions
The responses to Kulinski’s post reflected just how polarizing Musk has become. While some dismissed Kyle as attention-seeking or irrelevant, others praised him for challenging a widely held view.
“Kyle’s one of the few willing to call out this nonsense,” one person wrote.
In the end, the post did what many on X aim for: it went viral, racking up tens of thousands of views and fueling one of the internet’s favorite debates.
Whether Elon Musk is a genius, a savvy marketer, or both, he remains a lightning rod for controversy in both tech and politics.