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Since acquiring Twitter and rebranding it as X, Elon Musk has shifted the platform from its stated goal of political neutrality to a powerful tool for his own ideological and political agenda. Initially, Musk pledged that for X “to deserve public trust, it must be politically neutral.” However, his active management has seen the platform become a vehicle for his personal views, often aligning with right-wing narratives and figures.
Under Musk’s leadership, his personal account, which has over 200 million followers, has become one of the most influential on the platform. He frequently engages with and promotes content that includes anti-immigrant rhetoric, conspiracy theories, and criticism of diversity and inclusion initiatives. This has contributed to what some analysts describe as the transformation of X into a pro-Trump echo chamber, where conservative voices and narratives are amplified, sometimes directly by Musk himself. He has reinstated previously banned accounts, including Donald Trump's, and his content moderation policies have been significantly relaxed, leading to concerns about the spread of misinformation.
Musk's influence extends beyond social media. His growing alignment with former President Trump has led to discussions about a potential advisory role in a future administration. This partnership could have significant implications for U.S. policy, particularly in areas where Musk has vested interests, such as electric vehicles, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. According to reporting in Nature, his well-known skepticism toward government regulation and climate science could shape science and technology policy in the US and beyond.
Beyond partisan politics, Musk has used his platform to advocate for his broader ideological concerns, primarily a crusade against what he terms the “woke mind virus” and a push for pronatalism to combat declining birth rates. He has repeatedly warned that population collapse is a greater risk to civilization than global warming. Through his ownership of X, Musk has effectively created a powerful apparatus to amplify his personal and political views, turning the platform into a key battleground in contemporary culture wars and solidifying his role as a major political influencer.
