As Los Angeles burns, the man with the ear of the new president, is helping spread false claims and racist ideas for political outrage.
his 212 million followers with posts casting blame for the blazes on Democrats and diversity policies, amplifying narratives that have taken hold among far-right activists and Republican leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump.
California state officials say they are struggling to combat Musk’s ability to stoke chaos in a fast-moving crisis. Brandon Richards, who leads Governor Gavin Newsom’s rapid-response communication efforts, said social media accounts such as Musk’s make it more difficult to manage disaster response. When large accounts get involved, it’s a “totally different ballgame” that allows misinformation to quickly snowball, he added.
In the years before Musk bought the company, it had worked to elevate reputable sources and counteract falsehoods, hiring a team of former journalists to curate its “trending” section. Public agencies came to rely on it as a utility to reach the media and public with real-time updates in crises such as Hurricane Ian in 2022.
X’s user base is far smaller than those of some other social media sites, like Facebook, but it has long held outsize influence in breaking news and politics. Musk’s newfound role as one of Trump’s closest advisers has increased the weight of what he says on the platform.
Musk claimed after Hurricane Helene that private relief flights to North Carolina were being blocked by the Federal Aviation Administration, a claim refuted by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The rise and rise of Maye Musk: China’s love affair with Elon Musk’s motherThe 76-year-old is part of a trend of ‘silver influencers’ whose success in the face of adversity resonates strongly. Could she be Elon’s secret weapon in China?
Read more »
Elon Musk’s Farage meeting renews reports he could fund Reform UKReform treasurer also joins talks at Donald Trump’s home as far-right party says ‘we can do great things together’
Read more »
Elon Musk Teases Xmail: Can It Take On Gmail?Elon Musk has hinted at a new email service called Xmail, potentially integrating with his social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Read more »
Elon Musk's Wealth Soars After Backing Donald TrumpElon Musk's net worth has skyrocketed since Donald Trump's election victory, with some speculating that Trump's policies will benefit Musk's companies. The article explores the ethical implications of such immense wealth disparity and Musk's prioritization of space exploration over addressing global hunger.
Read more »
Elon Musk Backs Reform UK, Discusses Major Donation with Nigel FarageElon Musk has pledged his support to the populist Reform UK party and initiated discussions with leader Nigel Farage regarding a substantial financial contribution to aid the party's campaign against both Labour and the Conservatives. Farage met with Musk at Mar-a-Lago, where the possibility of a donation reaching £78 million ($158 million) was explored. This would mark a potentially unprecedented donation in British political history.
Read more »
Elon Musk Backs Reform UK with Potential Multi-Million Pound DonationElon Musk has publicly supported the Reform UK party, indicating a possible significant financial contribution. He met with party leader Nigel Farage at Mar-a-Lago to discuss potential funding to help defeat both Labour and the Conservatives.
Read more »