Elon Musk, who bought Twitter and turned it into X nearly two years ago, is now using the platform to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election in favor of former President Donald Trump. Musk has been vocal about his political views, pushing racist conspiracy theories, criticizing progressive causes, and warning of a “red wave” being necessary for the country to avoid impending doom. This shift in Musk’s focus towards campaigning for Trump is unusual for a billionaire and leader of a mainstream social network.
Social media platforms have played various roles in past elections, but typically do not try to sway users’ voting behavior, aside from providing accurate information about voting and removing influence operations. Musk has turned X into his own personal political messaging machine, with over 190 million followers, sharing false claims and misinformation. He officially endorsed Trump in a post that received millions of likes and hosted a livestreamed conversation with Trump where the former president made false claims without pushback.
Musk’s efforts to support Trump include sharing misleading content about Trump’s opponents, Vice President Kamala Harris, and donating to political action committees working to get Trump elected. The claims and misinformation about U.S. elections shared on X by Musk have been viewed over a billion times, which has raised concerns about their impact on people’s trust in the integrity of election outcomes. Musk’s actions, including sharing manipulated media and false claims, have been damaging to democracy, as per experts.
Musk’s political posts coincide with controversies on X related to misinformation, including false claims about immigration in the U.K. that allegedly fueled far-right riots. The prominence, influence, and resources Musk possesses amplify the damage caused by the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories on the platform. Following the conversation with Trump, Musk expressed his willingness to host a similar event with Harris, expressing concerns about a potential Harris administration.
As the owner of X, Musk’s actions have contributed to a rightward shift in the platform’s culture, including reinstating individuals with controversial views and altering rules for political content. Musk’s platform also faced criticism for allegedly cracking down on voices that differ from his views, raising questions about the platform’s commitment to free speech. Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, was criticized for spreading false information about Harris’ eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot.
The potential for Musk to influence Trump’s decisions if he wins reelection could enhance his power globally and benefit his business interests, which rely on government contracts and policies. There were reports of discussions between Musk and Trump regarding a potential role in the administration if Trump is reelected, and Musk offered to help rein in government spending in a future administration. The alignment between Musk and Trump could have implications for both the political landscape and Musk’s business ventures.
