Sometimes, stories bubble up that are a metaphor for a particular time. A moment before, and the incident would be so preposterous that no one could believe it. But when it happens, it captures the zeitgeist. Such an event just happened with Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk epitomizing the state of social media in 2024.

Maduro presided over an election Sunday that made the vote count in DeKalb County, GA, in 2020 look pristine. 

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As the Venezuelan Army and protesters clashed and massive crowds gathered in Caracas to protest the fraudulent election, Maduro did what any dictator would do. He picked a fight on social media. This is how it started. Musk accused Maduro of fraud.

Following the results of Venezuela’s presidential election, in which both Maduro and his opponent claimed victory, the Tesla CEO took to X to accuse the socialist leader of “major election fraud.”

“Maduro, leave! Venezuelans chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro. The data announce a crushing victory of the opposition, and the world is waiting for you to recognize the defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence and death,” Musk wrote in a second post.

What emerged was the most "X in 2024" thing possible. 

Maduro responded with a rambling speech in which he labeled Musk as his "archenemy" and dared Musk to invade Venezuela with his "rockets."

El burro sabe mas que Maduro https://t.co/9fe6JWOatM

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2024

Musk's reply translates as, "The donkey knows more than Maduro." 

Maduro promptly clapped back, challenging Musk to a cage match on national television.

JUST IN: Elon Musk accepts Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro's challenge to a fight.

Just when you thought 2024 couldn't get any crazier.

Maduro: "Elon Musk. Whoever messes with me, dries up. Whoever messes with Venezuela dries up, Elon Musk.

You want to fight? Let's have… pic.twitter.com/rqvCphOsuJ

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 31, 2024

"Elon Musk. Whoever messes with me, dries up. Whoever messes with Venezuela dries up, Elon Musk.

You can see Musk's responses: "I accept" and "He will chicken out."

The terms of the Musk-Maduro duel: pic.twitter.com/CNmInCz9ZU

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 31, 2024

If Maduro wants this to happen, he may need to move fast.

#BREAKING: This is #Caracas now. Streets of the #Venezuela's capital city is packed with hundreds of thousands of protesters. Army and police are also joining them to finish #MaduroTiranoDictador. The end of #Maduro's regime is imminent.#VenezuelaLibre pic.twitter.com/PntgKyn8fZ

— Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) July 30, 2024