Nearly two years after Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as X, the billionaire is leveraging the platform’s real-time news capabilities to influence the 2024 presidential election in favor of former President Donald Trump.
Musk has been vocal in the political arena for months, promoting controversial views including racist conspiracy theories about Biden’s immigration policies, fixating on the so-called “woke mind virus,” and forecasting national crisis if a “red wave” doesn’t occur in November.
Now, Musk—owner and the most-followed user on X—has adopted a more direct approach, actively campaigning for Trump. This marks a notable departure from the typical stance of major tech leaders, who usually avoid overtly steering public opinion or influencing election outcomes. Social media platforms have previously been used to build campaign support and have faced criticism for election-related interference, but owners have generally refrained from directly swaying voter decisions.
Elon Musk has repurposed the $44 billion platform he acquired into a personal political tool, aiming to sway his 190 million followers and amplify political messaging.
Last month, Musk officially endorsed Donald Trump in a post that garnered 2.3 million likes. On Monday, he hosted Trump for a two-hour livestream on X, during which the former president made at least 20 unchallenged false statements on topics ranging from crime and immigration to tax policy.
The conversation served as a major fundraising opportunity for Trump, with his campaign promoting it as a chance to achieve record-breaking contributions. Meanwhile, X capitalized on the event by sending notifications featuring Trump’s profile photo, encouraging users to subscribe to the platform.
Trump later criticized the media on Truth Social for focusing on technical issues rather than the substantial viewership, denouncing the coverage as unfair. CNN has reached out to both X and the Trump campaign for comments.
Powerful Tools for Spreading Disinformation
Musk’s political posts come amid controversy over X’s allowance of false claims about immigration in the UK, with Musk himself declaring that “civil war is inevitable.” British officials have criticized the platform, suggesting that the rhetoric, amplified by Musk, contributed to violent far-right riots across the country. This situation underscores the real-world consequences of online misinformation, particularly when propagated by one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential figures.
Wendy Weiser commented, “The more prominent and trusted the person spreading misinformation, the greater the damage. Musk’s vast platform, financial resources, and high profile are powerful tools for disseminating disinformation and conspiracy theories.”
After his conversation with Trump, Musk expressed willingness to host a similar event with Kamala Harris, who has not granted an interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Musk conveyed to Trump his belief that “we’re in massive trouble” under a Harris administration and emphasized the importance of Trump’s victory “for the good of the country.
X’s Evolving Culture
Under Musk’s ownership, X has undergone a broader rightward shift in its culture, influenced by several changes he has implemented. These include reinstating White supremacists and conspiracy theorists, as well as simplifying the process for politicians and political candidates to qualify for newsworthiness exemptions. This adjustment allows their content to bypass the platform’s usual restrictions or removal policies.
Additionally, X recently labeled the account ‘White Dudes for Harris’ as spam and locked it, despite the group’s efforts to fundraise and support Vice President Harris’s campaign. This has raised concerns about the platform’s adherence to Musk’s professed commitment to ‘free speech’ and whether it is suppressing viewpoints that diverge from his own.
Moreover, Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, accessible through X, faced criticism from a group of secretaries of state for disseminating ‘false information’ regarding Harris’s eligibility to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot in key battleground states. The secretaries have called for Musk to ‘immediately implement changes’ on the platform.
Lara Cohen, the former vice president of marketing at Twitter who left after Musk’s acquisition, commented on Threads ahead of the Trump event, reflecting on the shift: ‘I remember when Twitter led the industry by halting political ads. Freedom of speech didn’t equate to freedom of reach. Tonight’s Trump infomercial shows the platform and its owner sinking lower every day.’
Eyeing a Position in Trump’s Administration
For Musk, the opportunity to influence Trump’s administration could significantly enhance his global power and benefit his extensive business interests, which heavily rely on government contracts and favorable policies.
In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk and Trump had discussed a potential role for Musk in a second Trump administration, although Musk initially disputed the claim.
However, during their conversation on X Monday night, Musk expressed his willingness to contribute by joining a commission focused on government efficiency. ‘I think it would be great to have a commission that ensures taxpayer money is spent wisely,’ Musk said. ‘I’d be happy to assist with such an initiative.’
Trump responded positively, indicating he would ‘love it’ if Musk were involved, praising him as a ‘great cutter’ for his cost-saving efforts at his own companies.
