Tech billionaire and richest man Elon Musk, whose declare to fame is reaching Mars with SpaceX and being the CEO of driverless Tesla vehicles that crash, purchased essentially the most influential social media platform on this planet two years in the past. When he purchased Twitter, Musk, a self-described “free speech absolutist,” vowed he would give all views, liberal or conservative, equal footing there.
Since then, he’s proven he’s simply the alternative. He reinstated former President Donald Trump, who was banned on the location in 2021 after inciting an revolt. He modified the title from Twitter to X in a rebrand and eradicated Twitter’s verified blue checks that allowed authentication to public figures and journalists; he then made the checks on the market, all however diminishing their function.
Musk has additionally pushed quite a few conspiracy theories, together with misinformation round help and authorities response for Hurricane Helene; publicly endorsed Trump; and made a sick “joke” about assassinating Vice President Kamala Harris then deleted it. He spent the summer season bombarding the few customers nonetheless left on the platform with MAGA speaking factors, misinformation, and even old style bribery.
He’s made no secret he’s all in for Trump. Right here what Musk has been as much as within the title of MAGA simply this week.
1. Musk has made it that Democrats need nothing to do with X.
Democrats are abandoning X as a result of cesspool it has develop into. Political advert spending by Democrats notably on X, sees a declining pattern. From March 6 to Oct. 1, Republican candidates outspent Democrats on X by thrice, with $3 million in comparison with $1 million, reported The Washington Submit. Trump’s marketing campaign is the biggest political advert purchaser on X, reflecting his shut ties with Musk. Harris’ marketing campaign has not invested in adverts in any respect on the platform.
2. Musk misplaced a Supreme Court docket enchantment to guard Trump from Jack Smith’s Division of Justice case.
The Supreme Court docket determined to not hear an enchantment from X relating to a search warrant associated to the 2020 election interference case in opposition to Trump the place he used his X account to unfold misinformation and sow distrust within the electoral course of. Legal professionals for the corporate argued that Trump ought to have been allowed to claim government privilege, warning that such authorities actions may threaten different privileged communications. The AP additionally reported the corporate felt “a nondisclosure order that blocked it from telling Trump about the warrant obtained by special counsel Jack Smith’s team violated its First Amendment rights.”
3. Musk bribed for swing-state voter referrals with $47 for each signature.
On Sunday, Musk posted that he would pay $47 for every registered voter in sure swing states who refers somebody to signal a petition in favor of First and Second Modification rights. “For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money,” he posted on X. The petition goals to safe 1 million signatures from voters in seven key swing states: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. It’s unclear what the signatures shall be used for, however it isn’t unlawful.
4. Musk is stumping for Trump within the last weeks of the marketing campaign.
Musk joined Trump on stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the place he was seen leaping up and down as if out of a scene of “Revenge of the Nerds” or giving a creepy stare to Trump à la Smeagol from “Lord of the Rings.” He plans to go to the swing state in the course of the 4 weeks main as much as Nov. 5, in response to POLITICO. He’s anticipated to make appearances with assist from America PAC, the pro-Trump tremendous PAC he established.
5. Musk is taking up Turning Level’s get-out-the-vote initiative in Wisconsin.
Turning Level USA, a number one far-right tremendous PAC and America PAC, the pro-Trump group funded by Musk, are collaborating in Wisconsin in get-out-the-vote work because the election approaches. Nonetheless, Turning Level, which as soon as headed operations within the Badger State, will take a backseat to Musk’s management.
America PAC, which in response to the AP invested $45 million to canvassing efforts, began its hiring later within the election cycle. This consists of coaching Turning Level employees on information utilization, making operational selections, and protecting employees prices in Wisconsin, in response to sources aware of the association. Turning Level will focus its efforts on Arizona, the place it’s primarily based. For the reason that Republican Nationwide Committee was taken over by Trump in late April, plans had been scrapped to open 40 discipline places of work in battleground states, severely limiting the GOP’s floor recreation.
