New York — Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), is once again at the center of controversy for amplifying false claims and disinformation. In the latest series of posts, Musk has lent his massive social media platform to misinformation that includes a bomb threat hoax at a Trump rally and misleading narratives regarding the upcoming presidential election.
On Wednesday, Musk amplified a fabricated claim about an alleged bomb threat at a rally planned for former President Donald Trump in Long Island, New York. The post, which quickly garnered millions of views, was eventually flagged with a fact-check noting the baselessness of the claims. Despite the correction, Musk’s post continued to spread virally, signaling the tremendous influence he wields on the platform he owns. The Long Island Police Department swiftly responded, stating, “Reports of explosives being found at the site are unfounded.” Yet, Musk’s initial post had already generated significant traction, with 4.3 million views and nearly 10,000 shares within hours of its publication.
This bomb threat hoax is just one of several instances this week where Musk has leveraged X to amplify dubious or outright false information. Earlier in the week, Musk ignited further controversy by sharing a now-deleted post following what was rumored to be a second assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Musk, in a tone that many found cavalier, tweeted, “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” referring to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Though the tweet was later removed, and Musk claimed it was meant as a joke, it nevertheless added fuel to the ongoing fire of disinformation and raised concerns about Musk’s influence over public discourse.
Moreover, Musk promoted a fabricated “whistleblower” affidavit that falsely claimed the recent ABC News debate had been rigged in favor of Vice President Harris. Despite ABC News debunking the document as fake, Musk’s actions showcased his willingness to engage with conspiracy-laden content. Such falsehoods, especially when amplified by figures like Musk, have the potential to erode trust in democratic institutions at a crucial moment when American voters are looking for accurate information ahead of the November elections.
In a separate incident, Musk also reshared a misleading video that falsely accused Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, of eating pets. The video, heavily edited and taken out of context, was used to bolster unfounded claims that immigrants were engaging in dangerous behaviors. The video falsely attributed these statements to Springfield’s city manager, despite both the city’s mayor and manager denying any evidence of such claims. Musk’s post reached nearly 8 million views and helped stoke already-existing tensions surrounding immigration in Ohio, which has seen bomb threats and unrest as a result of these misleading narratives.
Musk’s reach on X, with his follower count surpassing 198 million, has turned him into one of the most influential voices on the platform. His posts, often amplified by algorithms, regularly find their way to the top of users’ feeds, giving his musings a level of visibility far beyond what most users can attain. This outsized influence, combined with Musk’s decision to dismantle many of Twitter’s moderation tools, creates a volatile mix that enables misinformation to spread rapidly and unchecked. The end of Twitter’s verification system, which once served to authenticate the credibility of sources, has further exacerbated the problem.
Financial incentives introduced by Musk that reward viral content have also led to a surge in sensationalist, often misleading posts. The fact that Musk has chosen to promote fringe, right-wing voices while consistently attacking mainstream news organizations and established journalists, poses a serious concern for voters as the country nears an election that is already marred by widespread misinformation and political polarization.
In one of his latest acts, Musk also shared a fabricated electoral college map, purporting to be from statistician Nate Silver. The map claimed a decisive victory for Trump in the upcoming election, despite Silver and his platform, Silver Bulletin, publishing a more nuanced analysis that identified key battleground states and declared the race far from decided. According to FiveThirtyEight, simulations of the election show Harris winning in 64 out of 100 scenarios, underscoring the uncertainty of the election rather than the Trump landslide Musk promoted.
As the November election approaches, concerns over the unchecked spread of disinformation online grow more acute. Musk’s personal engagement with incendiary and conspiratorial content, coupled with his company’s relaxed moderation policies, has set off alarm bells for advocates of free and fair elections. While Musk frequently claims to support free speech, his actions have repeatedly demonstrated a propensity to elevate false narratives and attack fact-based reporting, muddying the information landscape at a pivotal moment for American democracy.
Musk and X have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the bomb threat posts or the larger issue of election-related misinformation circulating on the platform. As the country braces for a divisive and closely contested election, the role of social media platforms, and particularly Musk’s influence over them, will remain under intense scrutiny.
