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A jarring incident on social media platform X highlighted how effectively establishment media messaging has influenced public opinion, particularly regarding platform owner Elon Musk.

Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud posted a controversial message seemingly suggesting Musk, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, should “go back to Africa.”

So when y’all gone tell Elon to go back to Africa? Cloud posted.

She followed this with commentary about Musk’s involvement in recent congressional proceedings, demonstrating what appeared to be limited understanding of the legislative process.

“Im so glad ALL these billionaires have no idea how the 3 branches of government work….or how a bill gets passed into law. Shoutout to the 38 Republicans who shot the bill down in the House while being threatened & blackmailed,” Cloud wrote.

The context behind Cloud’s remarks involves recent developments where Musk, alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has been selected by Trump to spearhead government efficiency initiatives. Ramaswamy scrutinized a lengthy House spending bill exceeding 1,500 pages and publicly outlined his concerns on X.

Subsequently, Musk orchestrated a public campaign opposing the bill, suggesting electoral consequences for representatives supporting it. The House ultimately passed a significantly reduced version, though conservative members maintained concerns about debt implications.

The incident reflects broader trends in public discourse. With WNBA star Caitlin Clark recently aligning with progressive stances, conservative interest in the league may wane, particularly given displays like Cloud’s commentary.

What’s particularly noteworthy is Cloud’s decision to criticize Musk rather than address the controversial spending provisions within the bill itself. The irony of using Musk’s platform to suggest his deportation, albeit possibly in jest, wasn’t lost on observers.

While the extensive spending bill would likely have sparked outrage among informed voters, Cloud’s response instead echoed establishment media narratives about Musk, reminiscent of previous treatment of Trump. Her reaction suggests successful messaging from traditional media sources rather than direct engagement with the bill’s contents.