Elon Musk slams F-35 fighter jets, amid Türkiye’s ongoing dispute

Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX and a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, sparked attention with a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), where he criticized the continued production of F-35 fighter jets, amid Türkiye’s drama with F-35 program.

In a post on his social media account, Musk said, “Manned fighter jets are already obsolete in the drone age. They will only cause the death of pilots.” He argued that drones should replace them.

Additionally, Musk shared a video of drones on his platform, captioning it: “Meanwhile, some fools are still making F-35s.” The post appeared to mock the reliance on traditional defense systems, suggesting drones represent the future of warfare.

Head of efficiency: Musk

Musk, who leads companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, has gained notoriety for his support of Trump, who is set to officially assume the U.S. presidency on January 20. The president-elect has appointed Musk to the position of head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Vivek Ramaswamy, a young politician, was also given a key government role.

Musk’s comment targeting the F-35 program has raised eyebrows, particularly given the fighter jet’s integral role in the defense strategies of several countries, including the United States. SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, remains closely involved with NASA.

Countries in the F-35 program

The F-35 program, led by the U.S., includes participation from the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

Meanwhile, Türkiye was removed from the program after its purchase of the Russian S-400 defense system, which led to the suspension of its involvement in F-35 production.