In a controversial move, Elon Musk is using his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, to create what may be the most expensive political ad ever. Despite a dramatic drop in the platform’s value — from $44 billion to just $12.5 billion as of 2024 — Musk’s control over X’s algorithm has allowed him to heavily promote his political preferences.
Musk, who officially endorsed former President Donald Trump on July 13, has used his platform to flood millions of users with pro-Trump and anti-Vice President Kamala Harris messages. According to reports, Musk’s posts about Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), have dominated the “For You” feed, significantly amplifying their reach.
Recent weeks have seen Musk ramp up his political messaging, publishing at least 173 posts that support Trump and attack Harris. Additionally, Musk is reportedly involved in creating a pro-Trump Super PAC, America PAC, and plans to make undisclosed donations to it.
The Trump campaign has capitalized on Musk’s support, with Trump reversing his opposition to electric cars, stating, “I have to be because, you know, Elon endorsed me very strongly.”
Tonight, Musk will further amplify his support with a highly-publicized “major interview” with Trump on X. The Trump campaign has dubbed it “THE INTERVIEW OF THE CENTURY,” though many media outlets, including the Washington Post, have framed it more as a promotional event rather than a journalistic endeavor.
Musk’s approach on X has been criticized for spreading misinformation and partisan content. He has:
Falsely claimed that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz mandated tampons in boys’ bathrooms, when the law only requires schools to provide menstrual products to students who menstruate, primarily benefiting girls.
Shared a doctored video of Harris in which she purportedly makes inflammatory and false statements, which has not been labeled or removed despite X’s rules against deep fakes.
Attacked Harris for identifying herself at a disability event in a manner meant to accommodate blind and visually impaired attendees, while misrepresenting the context.
Agreed with a right-wing pundit that Harris’s lack of children disqualifies her from the presidency, reflecting a controversial stance on personal qualifications for office.
Amplified Trump’s false claims about undocumented immigrants voting in large numbers, despite evidence showing such claims are baseless.
As Musk continues to use X as a platform for his political views, critics argue that his actions constitute an unprecedented use of social media for political advertising, leveraging his financial investment to influence public perception and political discourse.
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