Elon Musk's Online Rhetoric: A Deep Dive

Elon Musk, the wealthiest person globally, has been very active on X, his social media platform. Over the past month, he has posted, replied, or shared content 1, 716 times, averaging about 55 posts per day. His posts cover a wide range of topics, from politics to his companies, but a significant portion focuses on politically charged issues. Nearly half of his posts during this period were about politics. He has been vocal about crime, immigration, and judges, often aligning with far-right views. He has shared controversial ideas, such as the antisemitic "great replacement" conspiracy theory and the baseless claim that the FBI staged the January 6th attack on the U. S. Capitol. Musk's posts about crime are frequent, despite crime rates falling. He often targets judges and prosecutors, accusing them of being too lenient, especially in cases involving Black defendants and white victims. He has also criticized immigration, both in the U. S. and globally, warning about the supposed negative impacts of mass immigration. His posts about his companies, particularly his AI startup, xAI, are also frequent. He uses his platform to promote his businesses and engage with his followers. However, his political posts often overshadow his business-related ones. Musk's online activity has raised concerns about his influence and the spread of misinformation. His posts often reflect extreme views and conspiracy theories, which can have a significant impact given his large following. His political influence remains strong, even without a formal role in government.