Maye Musk, mother of billionaire Elon Musk, has been generating a lot of buzz lately, not just for her famous son but for some rather tone-deaf remarks she’s been making in the press. At 76, Maye is using her newfound media prominence to dole out advice, much of which reflects the mindset of the privileged elite who believe that success is just a matter of a positive attitude — and maybe a little luck.
In a recent Fox News interview, Maye tackled the topic of America’s declining birthrate, which many blame on the skyrocketing costs of living. Instead of addressing the systemic issues that make it difficult for many to afford to start families, Maye casually suggested that the solution is simply changing the way we think about it. In her world, having children isn’t a financial burden but an opportunity for growth. She nostalgically shared how, in her early days, she lived in a “two-bedroom small apartment overlooking a garage,” which then transitioned into a “two-bedroom house” as she expanded her family.
For Maye, that sounds like a straightforward path: have kids, grow your bank account, and improve your lifestyle. Unfortunately, this view isn’t in touch with the reality most Americans face, where the cost of living continues to rise and salaries fail to keep up. As many families struggle with debt and the high cost of childcare, the idea that simply having children will lead to financial prosperity feels like an insult.
Her advice gets more detached from reality when she suggests that families simply stop going out for dinner or the movies and instead “spend time” with their kids. While spending quality time with family is invaluable, telling people to just cut out all leisure or social activities as a solution to financial strain is patronizing at best. It’s an age-old narrative that blames the working class for their own struggles, painting the idea that if people simply made different choices, they’d magically find success. It’s a tired excuse for the structural inequalities that make it impossible for many to get ahead, let alone thrive.
But the core of Maye’s narrative isn’t new. It echoes the same tired talking points that the rich have used for decades to distract from the realities of economic inequality. Millennials aren’t buying homes because they’re “buying avocado toast,” and Gen-Z doesn’t want to work — it’s all a deflection. The truth is, we should be able to live a life that includes financial stability, homeownership, and leisure activities without sacrificing our well-being. Instead, we get advice like Maye’s, urging people to settle for less while those at the top reap the rewards of an economy rigged in their favor.
As more people start to push back against this narrative, the frustration with the rich only intensifies. With interviews like these, it’s clear that the Musks, and others in their elite circle, are trying to gaslight us into accepting a system that is increasingly stacked against the average person. It’s no wonder that the call to “eat the rich” is gaining traction — they’re out of touch, and their rhetoric is beginning to taste just as bitter as their actions.