Jerry Braakman, the president of First American Trust, has urged Tesla's board of directors to suspend CEO Elon Musk following his endorsement of antisemitic views on social media. Braakman believes that Musk crossed a line by agreeing with a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that propagated hatred against the Jewish community. In a statement, Braakman emphasized that while he supports free speech, there is no excuse for a CEO of a public company spreading hate.

Last Friday, major brands such as Disney, NBCUniversal, and Warner Bros. Discovery halted advertising on X, which is owned by Musk. While the companies did not explicitly state that their decision was related to Musk's antisemitic post, it was reported by Media Matters that some of their advertisements were found near such posts on the platform.

Braakman suggested that in response, Tesla's board should place Musk on leave for a period of 30 to 60 days, as well as require him to undergo empathy training and/or therapy. He argued that neither Musk's wealth nor his technical and business expertise could justify his statements, which appear to indicate deeper personal issues that require professional help.

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, the dean for leadership studies at the Yale School of Management, concurred with Braakman's stance, stating that Tesla's board of directors must take responsibility and suspend Musk from his role as CEO. Sonnenfeld even proposed that Musk could serve as chief technology officer instead, indicating that the potential impact on the company's share price would not be significant.

As of the end of March, Musk holds 411 million Tesla shares, making him the largest individual shareholder with a stake of approximately 13%, valued at around $96 billion. Despite his significant influence within the company he co-founded, Braakman emphasized that it is solely Tesla's board that has the power to hold Musk accountable.

Nell Minow, a Tesla shareholder and vice chair of ValueEdge Advisors, further expressed her disappointment in Musk's behavior, suggesting that Tesla's board should engage a firm to evaluate the impact of Musk's actions on the company's brand. Minow stated that as a Jewish person, she finds Musk's instability and antisemitism equally concerning, and has decided against purchasing a Tesla in light of his actions.

While some business leaders have come out in support of Musk, including hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, others have voiced their disapproval. Ross Gerber, CEO and president of Gerber Kawasaki, labeled Musk's behavior "absolutely outrageous" and accused him of "destroying the brand." Gerber remarked that he has never encountered a situation like this with any other company he has invested in.

At present, neither Tesla nor the company's chair, Robyn Denholm, have responded to requests for comment. With Musk serving as the CEO, sitting on the board, and being the largest individual shareholder, the decision regarding his future rests with the board of directors.

As calls for action intensify, it remains to be seen how Tesla's board will address the situation surrounding Elon Musk and the implications of his endorsement of antisemitic views.