In a move that sent shockwaves across both social media and the education sector, Elon Musk has sparked a new storm of controversy by declaring that Pride flags should be permanently banned from classrooms. In a tweet that quickly went viral, the SpaceX CEO, Tesla founder and self-proclaimed “Chief Twit” of Twitter wrote: “Pride flags should be permanently banned from classrooms! It’s time to focus on education, not agendas.”

This latest statement from the tech mogul follows a growing pattern of his public statements on controversial cultural issues, cementing his role not only as the man behind Mars missions but also as the leader of the anti-woke brigade.

Musk, known for his ability to spark public debate in just 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 “courage” in addressing what they see as an unnecessary display of identity politics in education, while others criticized him as out of touch with reality and unnecessarily divisive.

Conservative circles were quick to echo Musk’s statement, with some calling him “the voice of reason” in a world gone mad for inclusivity. Social media was flooded with memes, celebratory hashtags and images of classroom walls stripped of their colorful flags in favor of good old American patriotism.

“Finally, someone with influence is standing 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 undo the progress made over the past decades. Many Twitter users, celebrities and advocacy groups used the platform to criticize Musk for what they considered to be his “unnecessarily provocative” stance.

“You can send humans to Mars but not 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 had to deal with the unexpected spotlight being put on a problem many thought had already been solved. A spokesperson for the National School Boards Association commented, “It’s not every day that the richest man in the world tweets about classroom decorations. Needless to say, we were not prepared for this.”

While some school districts in conservative areas showed early signs of being positive about Musk’s controversial idea, others were firmly opposed to it. “We believe in fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect for all students,” said a high school principal in Los Angeles. “If a rainbow flag makes a student feel seen, then it’s worth it.”

In response to the backlash from some schools, Musk followed up with another tweet: “Don’t get me wrong, kids can still have rainbows in their drawings… just not taped to the walls in the name of an agenda.”

As usual, Musk’s comment quickly went beyond the confines of social media and the classroom, sparking discussions in boardrooms and offices across the country. Many of Musk’s colleagues in the business world chose to remain silent on the matter, uneager to get caught up in another of his Twitter storms. However, some voiced their opinions.

“Education should be free of distractions. I applaud Elon for speaking out what many of us are afraid to say,” said one CEO who asked to remain anonymous (and who also happens to run a company that relies heavily on SpaceX for satellite launches).

Meanwhile, companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Disney, known for their vocal support of LGBTQ+ issues, were quick to issue statements contradicting Musk’s sentiments. “We stand with all students, no matter who they are or who they love. Our classrooms should reflect diversity, not hide it,” said a statement from Disney, accompanied by an obligatory rainbow heart emoji.

As is typical with any Musk Twitter event, it didn’t take long for the internet’s creative forces to go to work. Memes ranging from Musk holding a Pride flag in his Mars Rover to animated sequences of rainbow rockets launching into orbit quickly flooded timelines. The “Ban the Flag” movement, as it became known, even gained traction in meme-ified news segments, complete with commentators discussing the logistics of sending all Pride flags to the moon.

Late-night hosts couldn’t resist jumping into the fray, either. Stephen Colbert quipped, “Elon Musk wants to ban Pride flags from classrooms, which makes sense. He’s already banned subtlety from Twitter.”

SNL produced an entire sketch parodying Musk’s decision-making process at Tesla headquarters, where the billionaire was not focused on electric cars or space exploration, but a 

Urgent board meeting to discuss his next target in the “culture wars.” Spoiler: It wasn’t the oil industry.

Musk, for his part, seemed unfazed by the wave of criticism and ridicule that followed his tweet. In fact, true to his reputation, he seemed to enjoy it. When asked in a subsequent interview if he regretted making such a divisive statement, Musk chuckled. “Look, we have more important things to worry about than flags. How about we focus on going to Mars, curing diseases, and refocusing classrooms on learning math and science?”

It remains to be seen, however, whether Musk’s joke will lead to actual policy changes in schools or if this is just the latest battle in an ongoing culture war that shows no signs of slowing down.

Musk ended his media offensive with a statement that left both his supporters and critics puzzled. “If they want to hang flags in classrooms, fine. But if I’m sending rockets into space, they better make sure my flag is flying up there and not a rainbow flag.”

As the dust settles from yet another Musk-fueled Twitter craze, one thing is clear: The debate over what belongs in the classroom is far from over. Even though Elon Musk started this latest debate, it’s now up to school boards, parents, and educators to determine what will (or won’t) fly in America’s classrooms.

For Musk, however, this is just another day in the life of a billionaire provocateur – one who seems as interested in shaping Earth’s culture as he is in exploring the final frontier.

And as always, the world is eagerly awaiting his next move.