Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Joe Rogan, a popular podcast host, recently took to social media to express their amusement over an opinion piece published by MSNBC.
The article, penned by Professor Cynthia Miller-Idriss of American University, suggested that far-right groups are exploiting the trend of at-home fitness to radicalize individuals. Musk humorously tweeted that it’s becoming hard to distinguish between parody and reality, while Rogan expressed disbelief that maintaining good health could be associated with far-right ideologies.
Miller-Idriss’s article argued that far-right groups lure new members by offering health tips and strategies for physical improvement. Once engaged, these individuals are then invited to private chat groups. The professor also referenced Adolf Hitler’s fascination with boxing and jujitsu, as outlined in his book, Mein Kampf. She suggested that the far-right’s interest in fitness and combat sports stems from a shared obsession with masculinity, strength, and competition.
The article’s claims were met with widespread skepticism on Twitter, with users questioning the connection between fitness and far-right ideologies. Some pointed out that the argument seemed like a conspiracy theory, while others noted that it was odd to fear fitness, homeschooling, parental rights, and religious liberty.
