As the world watched the 47th U.S. presidential election unfold, one name was almost as prominent as the candidates themselves: Elon Musk. Known for his innovation and influence, Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), used his social media platform and resources to support former President Donald Trump’s campaign in unprecedented ways. Musk’s support extended beyond the typical billionaire endorsements—his backing became a full-fledged media and influence operation, pushing the boundaries of social media’s role in political campaigning.

A Strategic Partnership with X (Formerly Twitter)

Musk’s influence through X became a significant factor in Trump’s campaign, providing a social media home where pro-Trump narratives dominated the trending section. With Musk’s encouragement, the hashtag #VotedForTrump featured prominently, showing a heroic animated Trump walking across screens of X users, a clear rallying cry for Trump supporters. Musk’s endorsement didn’t stop there—he also shared conspiracy-driven content and memes aligning with Trump’s rhetoric, creating a virtual echo chamber for his 200-million-follower audience.

By promoting Trump-aligned content, Musk transformed X into a pro-Trump platform that amplified his political views, a marked departure from his predecessors’ relatively neutral stance on political matters. While other social media giants, like Facebook and Google, often tread carefully in political waters to maintain neutrality, Musk steered X boldly in Trump’s favor, effectively........

© The Spine Times