In the aftermath of the Las Vegas Cybertruck incident and the death of decorated Green Beret Matt Livelsberger (stationed in Germany, on approved leave), Elon Musk’s social media response reveals a calculated break in his established pattern of behavior. While his posts mocking the deceased service member align with his typical attacks on critics, his conspicuous silence on technical aspects suggests deeper implications.
A Documented Pattern of “Alien Technology” Claims
For years, Musk has strategically and repeatedly deployed “alien technology” claims to generate attention and shape high-profile narratives around Tesla and SpaceX.
In Dec 2017 he infamously tweeted about Air Force Base launching a SpaceX rocket:
Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea.
On a 2019 Q4 earnings call he announced:
Speaking about Tesla’s next-level powertrain, Musk says, “… [it’s] mind blowing I think. Yes. Coming out later this year, end of the year probably, that’s our goal. Get powertrain up [by] end of the year and then it’s going to be like — this is like alien technology, it’s insane…. Tesla is all about hardcore engineering.”
There was nothing notable that followed that claim, other than Tesla stock price jumping for fake news.
Then in July 2020, he tweeted:
Aliens built the pyramids obv
Most significantly, in May 2021, he made an extraordinary claim connecting SpaceX and Tesla capabilities in an allegedly now-deleted tweet that suggests consciousness of potential regulatory violations:
With SpaceX thruster option, Tesla Roadster will be able to do 0-60 mph in 1.1 seconds. Alien technology works!
This pattern continued through 2024. In November, he declared on social media:
SpaceX is alien-level technology.
Then, in an eerily similar message to Livelsberger’s final communications, Musk was quoted in December 2024:
…his ambition to send crews to Mars as soon as 2028 would result in “alien-level technology that is crushingly better than competitors,” along with making an oblique reference to averting a war against China.
That comment is just too similar to Livelsberger’s own communication right before his suicide to be coincidental. Was the Green Beret under the impression he was helping Musk (and Trump) by bringing attention to the threat from “alien-level technology”? His communication also asked everyone to rally around these two. Consider this when observing a clear shift from Musk’s years of cavalier “alien technology” claims to his sudden, uncharacteristic silence on technical aspects after Livelsberger gave his own life to draw attention to Musk’s statements.
That 2028 timeline claim by Musk also is notable, given his long habit of breaking promises and failing to deliver. In 2016, Musk barked loudly about being on Mars by 2018:
…you should pay attention to the April 27, [2016] announcement from Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, that he intends to launch his first unmanned Mars mission in just two years and will beat NASA’s goal of putting astronauts on the surface in the 2030s by up to a decade.
We see now he hasn’t been beating NASA’s timeline at all. He’s only lowered standards to the point where anything goes. Systematically dismantling safety regulations by privatizing aerospace has caused a series of catastrophic unaccountable explosions and dangerous quality failures. Levelsberger blowing up Tesla/SpaceX tech after talking about alien-like gravitic propulsion… was tragically on brand.
The Counternarrative: Deliberate Contradiction
Simultaneous to alien tech promotion, Musk maintains a contradictory stance. In March 2021, he tweeted about a lack of UFO evidence, posting a chart with exponential camera resolution improvement over time next to alien picture resolution remaining flat:
Strongest argument against aliens
At the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2024, he stated:
I’ve not seen any evidence of aliens. And SpaceX, with the Starlink constellation, has roughly 6,000 satellites, and not once have we had to maneuver around a UFO… Never. So I’m like, okay, I don’t see any evidence of aliens.
Tellingly, just months before the Vegas incident, in October 2024, Musk explicitly connected alien technology claims to classified programs, raising serious questions about his use of government-restricted information to promote his companies:
“The split second I see any evidence of aliens, I will immediately post that on the X platform,” he told [disgraced ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson]. “It will probably be our number one post of all time.” […] “Well, unidentified flying objects are one thing,” he said, “but there are always a bunch of classified programs that are underway.”
A Pattern of “Permanent Improvisation”
This deliberate contradiction follows what German political scientist Karl Dietrich Bracher termed “permanent improvisation” – a state where those in power maintain control not through law and order, but through constant chaos and contradiction. Musk’s approach mirrors this strategy perfectly:
- Claims are presented as jokes when challenged
- Promises shift without accountability
- Technical capabilities are both extraordinary and nonexistent
- Classified information is both hinted at and denied
A long record of unaccountability has earned him recognition as the most prolific liar in the history of American business – a characterization supported by the documented patterns of contradictory statements and unfulfilled claims.
The Vegas Incident: A Critical Break in Pattern
What makes the Las Vegas incident significant is Musk’s departure from this established pattern. While he’s posted repeatedly about the event, he’s carefully avoided any mention of the technical claims – an unprecedented restraint for someone who typically responds within hours to any discussion of advanced technology.
This selective silence becomes more notable considering:
- The incident occurred near both Tesla and SpaceX facilities in Nevada
- The claims touch directly on advanced technology Musk regularly discusses
- The event involved a Tesla vehicle used to make a statement about advanced technology
National Security Implications
Three critical factors suggest why Musk’s typical “permanent improvisation” strategy has been suspended:
- His access to classified aerospace technology through government contracts may have finally crossed a regulatory line
- His pattern of hinting at classified capabilities in social media may have triggered increased scrutiny
- Active national security investigations may be constraining public discussion of technical capabilities
As investigations continue, Musk’s selective silence may prove as significant as any evidence that emerges. The incident demands focused attention on:
- Mental health support for service members
- Better control of classified technology access
- Corporate responsibility in public communications
- National security implications of private sector technology claims
The Vegas incident raises vital questions about the intersection of technology, mental health, and national security. Musk’s unprecedented break from his “permanent improvisation” strategy suggests authorities may be finally confronting the dangers from his reckless mixing of classified aerospace capabilities with consumer product marketing; how he has contributed not only to artificial inflation of stock price but also to radicalization of a highly decorated Green Beret to commit suicide.