Elon Musk Reacts To J.K. Rowling's Controversial Post Quoting Hitler

J.K. Rowling has reignited controversy after quoting Adolf Hitler in another viral post criticizing gender ideology, marking the second time in a week she has referenced the dictator to make a point about free speech and political extremism. The "Harry Potter" author, who has faced years of backlash for her outspoken views on trans rights and cultural debates, accused activists of using fear, censorship, and intimidation in ways she says mirror fascist propaganda. The remarks quickly drew backlash online and added to Rowling's growing list of controversies, from her political statements to her past comments on transgender issues. Her decision to invoke Hitler's words once again has sparked heated debate about how she frames her arguments and who is amplifying them.

Rowling has become as well-known for her cultural commentary as for her bestselling books. In her latest post, she lashed out at what she calls the dangers of "gender ideology," arguing that the movement silences opposition with fear and intimidation. "Words are not violence," she began. "When you pretend that views that oppose your own are violence, you are justifying the use of actual violence towards the speaker."

Rowling went on to accuse trans rights activists of mimicking fascist tactics, citing a passage from Hitler's writings on propaganda:

“The function of propaganda is . . . not to weigh and ponder the rights of different people, but exclusively to emphasize the one right which it has set out to argue for. Its task is not to make an objective study of the truth, in so far as it favors the enemy, and then set it before the masses with academic fairness; its task is to serve our own right, always and unflinchingly.”

She claimed she has seen trans activists echo similar sentiments "barely rephrased, a thousand times," before declaring, "Your movement seeks to remove rights from others. It is anti-truth and critical thinking, pro-violence, pro-dehumanisation of those who disagree with you, and you are so lacking in self-awareness you cannot see that you are precisely what you pretend to hate."

Elon Musk wasted little time jumping into the fray. Sharing Rowling's post with his nearly 200 million followers, the billionaire added a single word: "Precisely."

The endorsement triggered immediate backlash. Critics accused both Rowling and Musk of inflaming anti-trans sentiment and normalizing dangerous rhetoric by quoting Hitler. Supporters, however, praised Musk for backing Rowling's free speech stance, framing the exchange as a pushback against censorship.

This week's controversy came just days after Rowling quoted Hitler in another viral post, this time in response to the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, who built his career on combative political debates, was fatally shot during a public event in Utah, an act many believe was politically motivated.

Rowling weighed in with a thread that racked up more than 9.5 million views, warning of the slippery slope from censorship to authoritarianism to outright terrorism. She broke down her argument in stark terms: those who only defend free speech for themselves are "illiberal," those who refuse to consider opposing evidence are "fundamentalist," those who support state punishment for dissenters are "totalitarian," and those who endorse violence against political opponents are "terrorists."

A follower then challenged her by asking whether her free speech argument applied to figures like Adolf Hitler, Rowling doubled down. She said people who casually label others "fascists" often resort to fascist tactics themselves — and to underscore her point, she quoted directly from Mein Kampf: "The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence."

That earlier post ignited its own firestorm, and critics now point out that Rowling has invoked Hitler twice in less than a week to frame her views on modern debates, a choice many see as provocative at best and inflammatory at worst.

J.K. Rowling has made her opposition to gender ideology a defining feature of her public identity, often framing the debate as one of free speech versus censorship. She argues that challenging prevailing views should not be equated with violence, and that silencing critics through fear or intimidation erodes open dialogue. Supporters view her as a fearless defender of truth and debate, while critics accuse her of amplifying harmful rhetoric and contributing to hostility against the transgender community.

Her comments, whether citing historical examples, sparking backlash over branding campaigns, or weighing in on high-profile cultural events, continue to keep her at the center of some of the most polarizing conversations of the modern era. And while Rowling shows no sign of softening her stance, the intensity of the reactions suggests the debate over her words is far from over.