Elon Musk, the tech mogul and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has significantly increased his political activity on X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2024. His posting volume has skyrocketed, averaging 61 posts per day compared to just 9 daily posts in 2019. This surge in political content began with his endorsement of former President Donald Trump’s campaign in July, marking a clear shift in his online presence.
An analysis of Musk’s social media exchanges between 2019 and July 2024 revealed a dramatic increase in posts containing political terms. In fact, the number of political exchanges in 2024 is approximately 230 times greater than in 2019.
Musk’s political engagement has intensified since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with his criticisms of government-mandated lockdowns and his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 further highlighting his political leanings. His posts have often addressed sensitive political and social issues, sometimes amplifying inflammatory or conspiratorial content, generating controversy and criticism.
This heightened political activity comes at a challenging time for X, as the platform’s revenue has plummeted by 84% since Musk’s acquisition. This financial decline has led to concerns among Tesla investors about Musk potentially liquidating more Tesla stock to cover the gap, potentially harming the company’s value.
Musk’s political engagement has also extended to conducting polls on X to gauge the political affiliations of his 196 million followers. However, his controversial statements have drawn scrutiny, prompting the Royal Society to reportedly consider expelling Musk from its fellowship.
Elon Musk’s increasing political engagement on X has undoubtedly captured attention, raising questions about the future of his companies and his own reputation. The impact of his political activities on X’s financial stability and his standing within the scientific community remains to be seen.
