Following the shooting at a rally attended by Donald Trump on Saturday, various conspiracy theories began to spread rapidly on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). These theories stand out, especially with the hashtags “#falseflag” and “staged.” X’s owner, Elon Musk, is known for his strong defense of “freedom of expression” on social media, but this can also pave the way for misinformation and conspiracy theories to spread on the platform.
Elon Musk’s support for Trump and reactions
Shortly after the incident, Elon Musk announced that he would fully support Donald Trump. According to a report published by Bloomberg yesterday, Musk made a significant donation to a super PAC supporting Trump. Musk, who has leaned toward conservative views in recent years, has supported conspiracy theories such as the “great replacement” and has shown sympathy for white supremacist views. This support has made him one of the influential voices supporting Trump’s campaign in Silicon Valley.
Conspiracy theories circulating on X after the incident generally consist of short posts claiming that the attack was fake or a staged event. Although there is no evidence to support these claims, X’s promotion of these topics among the trends causes the false information to reach a wider audience.
Other major social media platforms have been more successful in combating misinformation in the immediate aftermath. YouTube has directed its users to news clips and verified content creators, while Facebook has focused its search results on trusted news sources; the platform removed its trending topics section in 2018 due to persistent criticism. While Threads has occasionally highlighted posts with conspiracy theories about the incident, such content has not consistently appeared.
Elon Musk’s open support for Trump further complicates the problem of disinformation on social media platforms. While Musk advocates for free speech on social media, he also facilitates the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. This can make it harder for the public to access accurate information, especially when it comes to controversial figures like Trump.