Twitter argues Elon Musk is the product of ‘American ingenuity’

SpaceX, Falcon Heavy elon musk

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.

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.

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.

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.

Others on the social network however, hammered home the “shithole countries” point.

Some echoed Trump’s sentiment.

“American ingenuity is what has kept up at the TOP of the world for so long!” one user wrote.

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.

Andy Walker, former editor
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