After last night’s successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket — now the most powerful operational rocket in the world — the internet was more than impressed.
Over 2.3-million tuned into the YouTube livestream of the event, which SpaceX documented from aboard the Falcon’s components themselves, and his cherry-red Tesla roadster, bumping David Bowie with a stylish “Spaceman” manning the driver’s seat.
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While the car and its occupant is off to the Asteroid Belt (it was initially planned to orbit Mars, but will not quite get there), those back on Earth couldn’t help but congratulate the entrepreneur-cum-mad scientist.
“Congratulations @ElonMusk and @SpaceX on the successful #FalconHeavy launch. This achievement, along with @NASA’s commercial and international partners, continues to show American ingenuity at its best!” tweeted US President Donald Trump.
Congratulations @ElonMusk and @SpaceX on the successful #FalconHeavy launch. This achievement, along with @NASA’s commercial and international partners, continues to show American ingenuity at its best! pic.twitter.com/eZfLSpyJPK
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2018
But the “American ingenuity” aspect seemed to annoy some online. Mainly South Africans.
DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme was the first to comment.
“Um, no. @elonmusk was born in South Africa & went to school here. So it’s Shithole country ingenuity at its best!” she tweeted.
Um, no. @elonmusk was born in South Africa & went to school here. So it’s Shithole country ingenuity at its best! https://t.co/G0TAI3uAjR
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) February 7, 2018
But while Musk was born in South Africa and spent his formative years in the country, some believed that he would not have gone on to find success — let alone launch a Tesla into orbit — had he not left.
And had he stayed none of this would have been possible. The possibilities of achieving what he did in South Africa under present circumstances are nil.
— Jason Penrose (@jason_penrose23) February 7, 2018
Had Elon been educated in present day South Africa with the dumbed down education system and our dismal results in mathematics and science, none of his achievements would have been possible.
— Jason Penrose (@jason_penrose23) February 7, 2018
Others on the social network however, hammered home the “shithole countries” point.
American ingenuity? Isn’t Elon Musk from a shithole?
— Anne Hamilton (@AnneHamilton01) February 7, 2018
Watching Americans claim Elon Musk as their own… #FalconHeavy#SpaceX pic.twitter.com/cap8qODgGb
— Koshiek Karan (@iamkoshiek) February 7, 2018
Elon Musk is an immigrant from one of the countries you called “shitholes.” https://t.co/QX3BCJKbV6
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) February 7, 2018
Some echoed Trump’s sentiment.
“American ingenuity is what has kept up at the TOP of the world for so long!” one user wrote.
American ingenuity is what has kept up at the TOP of the world for so long! This is why it’s important to improve our school system. We do so NOT by relying on the federal government, but by rebuilding local communities and the institution of the family! #MAGA
— CoreyJones
(@CoreyLMJones) February 7, 2018
Whichever nation lays claim to Elon Musk’s passports, we can’t help but feel that the Falcon Heavy launch was a win for all the nations across planet Earth.
