"I have a point of view that is different than yours — that’s great. Let’s argue it out."
Unfortunately it doesn't work out that way with these people. They almost always argue in bad faith, don't shy away from lying and are happy to falsely smear people with shit just so that they can win political points. They know that even if their lies are discovered it won't have any consequences for them but the stink of the shit that they hurled at their opponents will remain for a long time.
It is not just about being a traitor or not. This attempt at declaring this guy a martyr is basically trying to prove you are one step more extreme than him on a meta level so you can absorb his influence and supporters to your being.
Being the little whiny vindictive little bitch that he is, he will likely threaten to cut some sort of funding to Arthur Ashe Stadium or US open men's tennis tournament.
lol that will be the least of your worries if you integrate anything Elon makes into my military systems