Following the 2024 US presidential election, Elon Musk came to X (previously Twitter) to encourage people to actively share and fact-check material on the network. Following Donald Trump’s expected victory, Musk slammed traditional media coverage of the election, arguing it deceived the public, and positioned X as an alternative for individuals wanting correct information. Musk wrote in his essay, “The reality of this election was plain to see on X, while the majority of legacy media lied to the public relentlessly.” “You are the truth.” His remarks reflect his longtime criticism.
This post followed Musk’s outspoken endorsement of Trump’s performance in the 2024 election. Musk described Trump’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris as “inevitable” and praised it as a “crystal clear mandate for change.” These remarks demonstrate Musk’s conviction that the election results reflect a broader shift in popular mood, which he argues was underreported by traditional media.
He has consistently pushed X users to become both news consumers and makers, arguing that social media can be a more direct and democratic source of information. However, this has also resulted in the spread of disinformation on the platform. According to a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, around 87 of Musk’s erroneous posts have received more than 2 billion views.
Trump’s triumph signals a historic political comeback, and Musk’s backing for the US president-elect aided his re-election. In return, Musk enjoyed a tremendous increase in wealth as Tesla shares rose after the election results were announced. Musk made a staggering $26.5 billion on election day, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. His new net worth has widened the wealth gap between first and second place, which is held by Jeff Bezos. Elon Musk tops the list with a net worth of $290 billion. Bezos is in second place with $228 billion.