In a fiery escalation of transcontinental tensions, Tesla CEO and X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk has launched a scathing attack on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, igniting a global debate on gun rights, national security, and political leadership.

The controversy erupted early this morning when Musk, posting from his Austin, Texas headquarters, unleashed a barrage of tweets criticizing Albanese’s push for stricter gun control measures in the wake of recent domestic incidents. Musk’s initial salvo invoked America’s Second Amendment, declaring: “Thank God for the Second Amendment.

Is he really elected by the people as prime minister? When he always makes STUPID decisions—if he confiscates all guns from licensed people, then when attacked by terrorist elements, what will they use to defend themselves? This country will soon be destroyed when he is in power.”

The tweet, which garnered over 10 million views within hours, was a direct response to Albanese’s recent parliamentary address where he advocated for enhanced restrictions on licensed firearms, citing Australia’s post-1996 Port Arthur massacre reforms as a model for further tightening.

Musk, a vocal proponent of gun rights in the U.S., framed Albanese’s policies as not only foolish but potentially catastrophic, suggesting they would leave Australians defenseless against hypothetical terrorist threats.

“Australians deserve better than a leader who disarms the good guys while bad actors run rampant,” Musk added in a follow-up post, amplifying his critique with memes depicting Albanese as a bumbling figure handing over keys to foreign invaders.

The attack comes amid heightened global scrutiny of Australia’s gun laws, which are among the strictest in the world. Since the 1996 National Firearms Agreement, mass shootings have plummeted, but recent debates over semi-automatic weapons and storage regulations have polarized public opinion.

Musk’s intervention injects an international dimension, drawing parallels to U.S. debates where the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. Critics argue Musk is importing American cultural wars into Australian politics, while supporters hail him as a defender of personal freedoms.

Albanese, never one to shy away from a fight, responded swiftly during a press briefing in Canberra.

Dismissing Musk as an out-of-touch interloper, the Prime Minister fired back: “Elon Musk is just a billionaire with nothing but money, not even a head to think with.” Albanese accused Musk of meddling in sovereign affairs, emphasizing Australia’s success in reducing gun violence.

“We don’t need lectures from a man who profits from chaos on his platform while ignoring the real-world harm caused by unchecked firearms,” Albanese added, referencing X’s role in amplifying misinformation during global crises.

But the real bombshell dropped just five minutes later, when Musk retaliated with a statement that sent shockwaves across the globe.

In a video posted to X, Musk escalated his assault with a deeply personal and inflammatory declaration aimed squarely at Albanese: “Anthony Albanese is a spineless puppet of globalist tyrants, selling out Australia’s future for woke points.

He’s not fit to lead a lemonade stand, let alone a nation—his brain must be as empty as his policies on defense. If he keeps disarming citizens, he’ll be remembered as the fool who handed Australia to terrorists on a silver platter.

Wake up, Aussies, before this clown turns your country into a defenseless zoo!”

This shocking 58-word tirade, delivered with Musk’s signature deadpan intensity, immediately trended worldwide under #MuskVsAlbo. The statement’s vitriol—calling Albanese a “spineless puppet” and implying intellectual vacancy—crossed lines rarely seen in high-profile international spats.

Analysts speculate Musk’s words were crafted to provoke maximum outrage, leveraging his 200 million X followers to amplify the message. Within minutes, world leaders and celebrities weighed in: U.S. President-elect reacted with a thumbs-up emoji, while European Union officials condemned Musk’s “reckless interference.”

The feud’s roots trace back to Musk’s growing interest in Australian politics. Earlier this year, he clashed with Australian regulators over X’s content moderation policies, accusing the government of censorship during debates on misinformation laws.

Albanese’s administration has been vocal about holding tech giants accountable, labeling platforms like X as enablers of extremism. Musk’s latest outburst ties into this, framing gun control as another form of government overreach.

“Thank God for the Second Amendment” serves as Musk’s rallying cry, contrasting America’s armed citizenry with what he portrays as Australia’s vulnerability.

Public reaction in Australia has been divided. Protests erupted in Sydney and Melbourne, with gun rights advocates chanting Musk’s words outside Parliament House. A poll by YouGov released shortly after showed 45% of Australians agreeing with Musk’s concerns about self-defense, while 52% supported Albanese’s stance on stricter controls.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton seized the moment, calling Albanese’s response “petty” and urging a debate on national security. “If a billionaire from overseas is highlighting our weaknesses, perhaps we need to listen,” Dutton said.

Internationally, the exchange has spotlighted broader issues. In the U.S., gun rights groups like the NRA praised Musk as a “global freedom fighter,” while anti-gun activists decried his influence as dangerous.

In Europe, where gun laws are even stricter, commentators mocked the spat as “American exceptionalism gone mad.” Chinese state media jumped in, portraying both leaders as symbols of Western dysfunction.

Musk’s shocking statement has potential repercussions. Legal experts suggest it borders on defamation, though Albanese’s team dismissed lawsuits as “unworthy of attention.” X’s stock dipped 2% amid fears of regulatory backlash, while Tesla’s Australian sales could suffer from boycotts.

Yet, Musk thrives on controversy—his net worth surged $5 billion last quarter amid similar feuds.

For Albanese, this is a test of resilience. Facing low approval ratings amid economic pressures, the Prime Minister must navigate this without alienating voters. His quip about Musk’s “empty head” landed laughs in Canberra but risks portraying him as dismissive of genuine concerns.

As the world watches, one thing is clear: Musk’s shock tactics have elevated a domestic policy debate into an international spectacle. Will Albanese weather the storm, or has Musk’s verbal grenade exposed cracks in his leadership? Only time—and perhaps another tweet—will tell.

In a final twist, Musk doubled down hours later with another jab: “Albanese thinks I’m brainless? At least I build rockets that work—his policies are crashing Australia into oblivion.” The saga continues, leaving the globe stunned and divided.