Keystone/Brandon Bell/Pool via AP
The richest man in the world initially scuttled a deal between the two parties in the US Congress by appearing to not take the truth very seriously. Even one Republican advised him to check his sources first.
Are you in a hurry? blue News summarizes for you
- Elon Musk played a critical role in the initial failure of the US budget compromise between Democrats and Republicans.
- In over 100 posts on his platform X, he disseminated partially falsified or fictitious content.
- He talked about big pay raises for parliamentarians, funding for an NFL team's stadium and financial support for the production of biological weapons, but in reality the budget included none of this.
The billionaire Elon Musk made clear the influence he could have on future US government leadership by speaking out against the transition budget approved by Congress.
In more than 100 posts on his platform Donald Trump. A new version – streamlined – finally passed Congress.
«Trump has already done something similar in the past, killing a law at the last minute. This time, however, he seems to fear that Musk will steal his thunder,” he said John Mark Hansenpolitical scientist at the University of Chicago. “Now there's a new social media bully in town.”
A much less marked increase
Another parallel with Trump: Musk isn't particularly precise with the facts. According to him, the budget, which he has vehemently rejected in his X posts, includes a 40% increase in the salaries of US Congress members.
But in reality it would have been a maximum increase of 3.8%, the first since 2009. Since then, most lawmakers earn $174,000 a year, while the speaker of the House of Representatives receives $223,500.
Other posts, other poorly verified news
Musk also passed on to his many followers another X user's false claim that the bill also included $3 billion for a possible new stadium for the Washington Commanders NFL team. “This should not be funded with your tax money,” the Tesla boss wrote.
In reality, the bill was about transferring the land for the stadium from the federal government to the capital district of Washington DC. This is a prerequisite for the possible construction of a new stadium, but there is no mention of payment with federal money. The mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowsersaid these false rumors are frustrating.
In a third post, Musk falsely wrote: “This law finances a biological weapons laboratory.” In truth, the agreement talked about funding twelve laboratories to conduct research on biosecurity, not on weapons. We explicitly talk about the danger of new infectious diseases, for example.
«Welcome to the oligarchy»
When asked by the AP news agency, a spokesperson for Musk did not comment on his false claims.
Even some Republicans turned up their noses at the matter. “I love you Elon, but you need to take five seconds to check your sources,” the Texas congressman wrote Dan Crenshaw his X.
Even regardless of the false accusations, Musk's interference in congressional decisions was, to many critics, a sign of further erosion of American democracy.
“Welcome to the world of oligarchy,” the independent senator wrote Bernie Sanders on X, in response to a video in which he harshly condemned Musk. The latter had threatened to deprive Republican parliamentarians of their mandate in the next elections if they did not follow him and vote against the agreement.
Musk was not elected to any office in the election, but will head the newly formed Office of Government Efficiency under Trump. This will become interesting when it comes to cutting unnecessary spending, political scientist Hansen said.
