Elon Musk Ramps Up War With Press, Accuses Media of 'Sugarcoating' Lies

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has started a war with the press, claiming media companies have lost the public’s trust and accusing them of hypocrisy. On Twitter, he also said he was going to launch a website where users can “rate the core truth of any article” and track the credibility of journalists and publications, reports CBS.

“The holier-than-thou hypocrisy of big media companies who lay claim to the truth, but publish only enough to sugarcoat the lie, is why the public no longer respects them,” he wrote.

The tweet linked to an analyst note which brushed off media criticism of Tesla, whose stock has fallen more than 10 percent this year and questions about its vehicle production, safety concerns, and other operational issues.

The holier-than-thou hypocrisy of big media companies who lay claim to the truth, but publish only enough to sugarcoat the lie, is why the public no longer respects them https://t.co/Ay2DwCOMkr

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2018

When Musk was compared to Trump by a reporter at tech site The Verge, Musk doubled down.

Thought you’d say that. Anytime anyone criticizes the media, the media shrieks “You’re just like Trump!” Why do you think he got elected in the first place? Because no ones believes you any more. You lost your credibility a long time ago.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2018

Musk then proposed a “rating site” that would evaluate outlets’ credibility and flag bots.

Create a media credibility rating site (that also flags propaganda botnets)

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2018

Tesla’s Model 3 sedan is behind schedule and analysts have questioned whether Tesla can meet production targets. Wall Street Analysts have raised questions about the company’s capital position after it burned through $1.1 billion in the first quarter. On Wednesday, consumer groups called for an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot feature, which has been linked to two deaths and one injury. Earlier this month, Musk held a combative phone call with analysts, in which he told people they were asking “bonehead questions” and he cut others off.