A post shared on social media purports Elon Musk posted on X defending CEOs after the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence that Musk posted this.

Fact Check:

A man shot Thompson outside a hotel in Manhattan, the manhunt for the suspect has been going on for several days, Fox News reported. The words “deny”, “depose” and “defend” were reportedly written on the bullet casings discovered at the scene, according to the outlet.

A post shared on Facebook alleges that Musk called for people to appreciate the work that CEOs do. The post shared a screenshot of the alleged post.

“It has been brought to my attention that some Americans are actually cheering for the gunman who killed United He United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson, and that they are saying this is a warning to all CEOs,” the alleged post reads. “What these people fail to understand is that without CEOs, the world would not be able to function, and as CEOs, we are responsible for the delicate balancing act of generating profits for shareholders while also ensuring that shareholders are able to maintain their own personal wealth even in spite of the typical corporate laziness and greed of middle-management and their staff. America will be destitute without us. #DOGE.”

The caption reads, “Elon over here saying the quiet part out loud. He thinks middle class people are being paid too much and the rich deserve more.”

The claim is inaccurate. There is no record of the post on his X account. There is no evidence of the post in the archive of his deleted posts on Polititweet.

Musk has shared posts about the healthcare system recently in which he labeled them as wasteful. Musk was recently announced as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency that will be established in the Trump administration, which will focus on cutting government spending, NBC reported. (RELATED: Is This Image An Authentic Norman Rockwell Painting That Resembles A Photo Of Elon Musk?)

Massive waste in healthcare spending https://t.co/b3rMzpAaWA

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2024

This is not the first time misinformation has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim Michelle Obama regrets endorsing Kamala Harris.