Doesn’t matter where you stand politically what Elon Musk is doing is out of this world.
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) October 13, 2024
Elon Musk appeared onstage at a Donald Trump rally last weekend, touting the importance of free speech and adding that “this will be the last election” if Trump doesn’t win. Wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, Musk acknowledged the foreboding nature of his remarks, saying, “As you can see, I am not just MAGA — I am Dark MAGA.”
"Donald Trump will empower the Dept of Govt Efficiency to restore common sense regulation, instead of the mindless mountains of meaningless paperwork."
一 Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/dTeHs6w0C1
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) October 15, 2024
It was the first time Musk joined one of Trump’s rallies and evidence of their growing alliance in the final stretch of the presidential election. Musk’s purchase of X, formerly known as Twitter, has given him creeping control over who and what gets amplified or suppressed on one of the world’s biggest media platforms.
This has been the proverbial icing on Trump’s cake.
"If Trump is not elected, the slow strangulation by overregulation will stop humanity from reaching Mars."
一 Elon Musk
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) October 13, 2024
It is telling that Trump did not even need to return to X to claim his old megaphone because political journalists he regularly calls “enemy of the people” post screenshots of his all-caps, hateful Truth Social rants on their own X accounts like an army of free press secretaries. Meanwhile, Musk’s misleading election claims on X were viewed at least 1.2 billion times between January and July of this year, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
I'm a total idiot, so Elon Musk must also be an idiot too
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) October 14, 2024
Musk promotes free speech at rally
He has also amplified conspiracy theories, such as accusing FEMA of “actively blocking” hurricane relief to use funds on undocumented migrants instead. Since Musk’s acquisition, he has sold blue “verified” check marks without vetting users, enabling misleading content to spread more easily.
Sensational fake news, troll attacks, and hateful rhetoric now garner the most attention. He also reinstated previously banned accounts like those of Andrew Tate, Ye (Kanye West), and Donald Trump. X is no longer the democratic “global town square” it once was.
For all Musk’s pledges about free speech, X has become a killer of free expression – political heroin curated by a billionaire controlling discourse and campaigning for another billionaire who branded journalists as “the enemy of the people.” An ominous sign indeed.
Johannah Lopez is a versatile professional who seamlessly navigates two worlds. By day, she excels as a SaaS freelance writer, crafting informative and persuasive content for tech companies. By night, she showcases her vibrant personality and customer service skills as a part-time bartender. Johannah's ability to blend her writing expertise with her social finesse makes her a well-rounded and engaging storyteller in any setting.
