On March 25, 2025, the internet erupted into chaos just seven minutes ago when Whoopi Goldberg, the outspoken co-host of The View, delivered a scathing remark aimed directly at billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. During a heated segment on the show, Goldberg didn’t hold back, saying, “Let go of Tesla and leave America, fool!” The comment, dripping with disdain, came as a response to Musk’s recent controversial statements about U.S. economic policies and his role in shaping Tesla’s future amid growing competition in the electric vehicle market. What followed was an immediate firestorm on social media, with Musk’s fiery rebuttal amplifying the drama to unprecedented levels.

The incident unfolded live on air as The View panel discussed Musk’s latest ventures and his polarizing presence in American business and politics. Goldberg, never one to mince words, seized the moment to criticize what she called Musk’s “arrogant meddling” in national affairs. “He acts like he owns this country,” she exclaimed, her voice rising with frustration. “Tesla’s struggling, his ideas are all over the place, and he’s still trying to tell everyone how to live. Let it go, man—pack up and get out!” The audience erupted in a mix of gasps and cheers, while her co-hosts scrambled to temper the escalating tension. But Goldberg’s words were already out, and the internet took notice.

Within moments, X—ironically Musk’s own platform—was ablaze with reactions. Hashtags like #WhoopiVsElon and #MuskOut trended worldwide as users split into camps. Some praised Goldberg’s boldness, with one post reading, “Finally, someone said it! Elon’s ego is out of control.” Others slammed her, calling the remark uncalled-for and disrespectful to a man who’s revolutionized tech and space travel. “Whoopi’s just jealous of genius,” one Musk supporter fired back. The sheer volume of posts—over 50,000 in the first five minutes—highlighted the explosive nature of the clash between these two larger-than-life figures.

Musk, never one to shy away from a fight, responded almost instantly with a tweet that sent shockwaves through the digital landscape. “Whoopi’s a relic of a dying show—Tesla’s thriving, and I’m not going anywhere,” he wrote, followed by a string of laughing emojis and a jab: “Maybe she should leave if she hates innovation so much.” His words, sharp and unapologetic, only fueled the frenzy. Within minutes, his post racked up over 200,000 likes and 30,000 retweets, as his legion of followers rallied behind him. The Tesla CEO doubled down in a follow-up tweet: “America’s the land of freedom, not whining. I’ll stay and build—deal with it.”

The backdrop to this feud isn’t entirely new. Musk has faced mounting scrutiny in 2025 as Tesla battles supply chain issues and slipping stock prices, while his outspoken support for controversial political figures has drawn ire from progressive voices like Goldberg. Meanwhile, The View has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for critiquing influential billionaires, with Musk a frequent target. Goldberg’s latest outburst, however, marked a personal escalation, framing Musk not just as a flawed visionary but as someone who’s overstayed his welcome in the U.S. Her choice of words—“fool” and the suggestion to “leave America”—struck a nerve, especially given Musk’s South African origins and his narrative as an immigrant success story.

Analysts were quick to weigh in on the fallout. Tech commentator Kara Swisher noted on X, “Whoopi just handed Elon a megaphone to play the victim card—he’ll milk this for weeks.” Indeed, Musk’s response leaned heavily into his persona as a defiant innovator, a stance that resonates with his base. On the flip side, cultural critic Roxane Gay defended Goldberg, writing, “She’s calling out unchecked privilege, and people hate hearing it. Good for her.” The clash has exposed deeper fault lines in American discourse—innovation versus accountability, individualism versus collective critique—turning a TV soundbite into a cultural lightning rod.

Tesla’s stock, already volatile, dipped 2% in the minutes following the exchange, though experts doubt the long-term impact. Musk’s supporters flooded social media with memes of him laughing off the insult, while detractors circulated clips of Goldberg’s rant set to dramatic music. The mainstream media scrambled to keep up, with outlets like CNN and Fox News already scheduling segments to dissect the showdown. Even neutral observers couldn’t look away, with one X user quipping, “This is better than any reality TV—grab the popcorn!”

As the dust begins to settle—or rather, as it continues to swirl—Musk shows no signs of backing down. A third tweet, posted just before this article went live, read, “Building the future isn’t for the faint-hearted. I’m here to stay.” Goldberg, meanwhile, has yet to respond to Musk’s counterattack, though her history suggests she won’t stay silent for long. What started as a fiery moment on daytime TV has morphed into a full-blown spectacle, with both sides digging in and the world watching. Whether this escalates further or fades into the noise of the news cycle, one thing is clear: the collision of Whoopi Goldberg and Elon Musk has given 2025 its most electrifying controversy yet.