In a move that sent shockwaves through social media and the education sector alike, Elon Musk has ignited a fresh firestorm of controversy, declaring that Pride flags should be permanently banned from classrooms. In a tweet that rapidly went viral, the SpaceX CEO, Tesla founder, and Twitter’s own self-proclaimed “Chief Twit” wrote, “Pride flags should be banned from classrooms, permanently! Time to focus on education, not agendas.”

Musk, known for his ability to stir public discourse with as few as 280 characters, once again flexed his Twitter muscles with this bold stance. Within minutes, his tweet began trending, sparking immediate and polarized reactions from all corners of the internet. Some praised Musk for his “bravery” in tackling what they see as unnecessary displays of identity politics in education, while others lambasted him as out-of-touch and unnecessarily divisive.

Conservative circles were quick to rally around Musk’s statement, with some dubbing him “the voice of reason” in a world gone mad with inclusivity. Social media was flooded with memes, celebratory hashtags, and images of classroom walls being ᵴtriƥped of their colorful flags in favor of good old-fashioned American patriotism.”Finally, someone with influence is stepping up to say what we’re all thinking,” tweeted one conservative commentator. “Pride flags belong at parades, not next to the periodic table.”On the other hand, critics of Musk’s position saw the statement as a thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ+ community and an attempt to ᵴtriƥ away the progress made over the last few decades. Many Twitter users, celebrities, and advocacy groups took to the platform to call out Musk for what they perceived as an “unnecessarily provocative” stance.

“You can send people to Mars, but you can’t tolerate a rainbow flag? Get with the times, Elon,” tweeted one prominent activist. Another user quipped, “I’d rather see a Pride flag in a classroom than one of Elon’s rockets stuck in a student’s science project.”Within hours of Musk’s tweet, school boards and educators across the country were left scrambling to navigate the unexpected spotlight cast on an issue that many thought had already been resolved. A spokesperson for the National School Boards Association commented, “It’s not every day that the world’s richest man tweets about classroom decor. Needless to say, this isn’t something we were prepared for.” While some school districts in conservative areas showed early signs of leaning into Musk’s controversial idea, others firmly rejected it. “We believe in fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect for all students,” said a principal at a Los Angeles high school. “If a rainbow flag makes one student feel seen, then it’s worth it.”