Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk has warned that a potential President Kamala Harris would leverage the power of government to shut down X, his social media platform. Musk made the statement during a recent conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan, where the two discussed the future of free speech and government intervention, particularly in the wake of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Musk, who acquired the social media platform for $44 billion in 2022, emphasized that he took ownership of Twitter (now X) to protect free speech. This move has been controversial, with critics questioning whether the platform has lived up to Musk’s promises. Rogan, however, noted the ongoing criticism Musk faces regarding his acquisition, saying, “If you didn’t do it, no one would have.”
The conversation quickly turned to the financial state of X. Some critics have pointed out that the platform’s value has dropped significantly since Musk’s purchase, with reports suggesting a 400% decline in valuation. Rogan pushed back against these claims, explaining, “And here’s the hilarious narrative that I keep hearing from idiots. ‘Elon’s a bad businessman. Twitter is worth, you know, 400% less than when he bought it.’ No, it wasn’t worth that in the first place. It wasn’t worth $44 billion, you f—ing morons. Wrong.”
Musk agreed with Rogan’s assessment, pointing out that the platform’s pre-existing issues were not acknowledged in these criticisms. He also highlighted the role of advertiser boycotts in contributing to the platform’s struggles. “You’re not taking into account the advertiser boycott. That’s total bulls—,” Musk remarked, reiterating that these boycotts, pushed by organizations critical of X, had a significant impact on its value.
One of Musk’s key criticisms during the interview was directed at the “Orwellian-named” Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a group that has been vocal about its opposition to content on X. Musk called the organization a “total scam” and compared it to George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth. He described the CCDH as a “censorship organization” that used its influence to pressure advertisers to pull their support from the platform.
The tension between X and the CCDH escalated last year when Musk’s company, X Corp, sued the organization for publishing misleading claims about the platform. X Corp argued that the CCDH exaggerated the presence of harmful content on the platform in a way that discouraged advertisers from investing. Musk and other X executives believe that these false narratives have undermined the platform’s financial stability.
Despite some signs of recovery in the advertiser market, Musk warned that the upcoming presidential election could play a pivotal role in determining the future of X. He expressed concern that a potential victory for Vice President Kamala Harris in the election would result in increased government interference. “I think if Trump wins, we’ll see, you know, probably most of the boycott will lift,” Musk said. “But if Kamala wins, we’ll see that boycott gets stronger and they’ll friggin’ shut [it] down.”
Musk’s comments about a potential “Kamala puppet regime” raised eyebrows, suggesting that such a government would likely prioritize censorship over the protection of free speech. “There’s no way that a Kamala puppet regime would allow X to exist,” he added.
Rogan then asked Musk if there was a real possibility that the government could shut down X, pressing him on the mechanics of such an action. “You really think that they’ll be able to shut it down, though? Is there a pathway to that?” Rogan inquired. Musk responded by outlining some of the tactics the government could use to target the platform.
“They can sic the DOJ [Department of Justice] on you know, and say like, you know, they’ve got this whole thing about like hate speech, misinformation or whatever,” Musk explained. “Except that they’re the ones pushing the misinformation. But that doesn’t stop them from filing massive, you know, lawsuits and using the DOJ.”
Musk’s concerns are not without context. Last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Musk’s other company, SpaceX, accusing the aerospace company of discriminating against asylum recipients and refugees in its hiring practices. While the lawsuit is still pending, it underscores the potential for government agencies to target Musk’s businesses, especially given his outspoken political views.
The conversation between Musk and Rogan underscores the deepening divide between Silicon Valley and government regulators over issues of censorship, free speech, and the role of tech companies in modern society. As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, it remains a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the power of social media platforms and their responsibility to balance open discourse with the need to curb harmful content.
Musk’s statements also highlight the broader political climate surrounding the 2024 election. As Musk sees it, the future of free speech in America is at stake. “The election is going to be a decisive moment in the battle between government censorship and freedom of speech,” he warned.
