X Owner’s Misleading Posts Fuel Far-Right Narratives and Amplify Election Disinformation Ahead of 2024 Presidential Race
As the U.S. heads into its high-stakes 2024 presidential election, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has found himself at the center of a controversy over spreading misleading and false claims about the election. An analysis by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) reveals that Musk’s election-related posts have garnered more than 2 billion views this year alone, sparking concerns about the role social media platforms play in shaping political narratives.
Musk, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, has not only endorsed the Republican candidate but has also become a leading figure in U.S. politics, using his platform to amplify far-right viewpoints. In July, Musk endorsed Trump and has since posted a torrent of political messages, including claims about election fraud, voter manipulation, and baseless accusations against Democrats.
The magnitude of Musk’s influence is staggering. Since his endorsement of Trump, his posts have generated over 17 billion views, a figure nearly double the views accumulated by all political advertisements on the platform combined during the same period. According to the CCDH, Musk’s prolific activity on X is equivalent to spending roughly $24 million in political ads, making him one of the top disseminators of political disinformation ahead of the 2024 election.
Musk’s posts have included repeated false claims, such as the debunked conspiracy theory that Democrats are “importing voters” by secretly flying millions of undocumented immigrants into the U.S. to vote for Kamala Harris and secure swing states for the Democratic Party. These claims, which have been widely debunked by fact-checkers, are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of misleading content shared by Musk to his more than 200 million followers.
“Given the sheer frequency of Elon Musk’s posting of disinformation and partisan rhetoric, it is almost inevitable that he will be one of the top spreaders of election-related disinformation in this cycle,” said Imran Ahmed, founder of the CCDH. This assertion comes as polls show a tight race between Trump and Vice President Harris, and Musk’s online activity plays an outsized role in shaping public opinion.
Musk’s influence has been particularly pronounced on X, which, under his leadership, has become a “perpetual disinformation machine,” according to Ahmed. Since Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022, he has removed many of the safeguards that once protected users from the spread of disinformation, leading critics to argue that X is now facilitating the spread of partisan rhetoric and false claims that undermine trust in the electoral process.
Critics have also pointed to the fact that X’s ad disclosure data reveals Musk’s posts and political spending are functioning in tandem, with his election-related messages generating the equivalent of millions in campaign spending. Despite the platform’s public disclosure of ad spend and views, Musk’s team has yet to respond to requests for comment from CNN or the CCDH.
In addition to spreading misinformation about election integrity, Musk has used X to elevate far-right narratives, supporting Trump’s campaign while disparaging Harris and promoting divisive political rhetoric. His actions have been criticized by both political figures and nonprofit organizations that track disinformation.
One of the most vocal opponents of Musk’s influence has been the CCDH, which has faced frequent attacks from Musk and his supporters. In fact, Musk recently sued the nonprofit, calling it a “criminal organization” after it published internal documents revealing its efforts to combat misinformation on the platform. The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge, who criticized the case as an attempt to punish the organization for its criticisms.
As the election draws nearer, the challenge of addressing the rampant spread of misinformation continues to grow. Musk’s control over X provides him with a vast megaphone that reaches millions of users daily, and as the CCDH’s research shows, the platform is playing a central role in shaping the political landscape. With the stakes higher than ever in 2024, Musk’s continued influence over X and its role in the election cycle raises serious concerns about the integrity of online discourse and the potential consequences for democracy.
As social media platforms grapple with the challenges of combating misinformation, the future of electoral integrity remains uncertain. With figures like Musk steering political narratives on powerful digital platforms, the question of how to regulate disinformation in a digital age has never been more pressing.
