Kamala Accuses Musk Of What?
A senior campaign aide to Vice President Kamala Harris has raised concerns about tech mogul Elon Musk’s influence over social media, accusing him of manipulating content on his platform, X (formerly Twitter), in a way that could benefit former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 election.
Rob Flaherty, Harris’ deputy campaign manager, told Semafor that Musk’s acquisition of Twitter was a “problem” for Democrats in the upcoming election cycle. Flaherty argued that the platform held significant influence due to its role in reaching influential elites and highly informed individuals. He explained, “X was a critical platform in shaping political discourse, especially when it comes to cultural and political intersections.” While it wasn’t the most widely used platform, Flaherty emphasized its importance in the political arena due to its ability to influence the conversation among key decision-makers and opinion leaders.
Flaherty continued by suggesting that Musk’s control of the platform tilted the narrative in favor of Trump, stating that the throttling of left-leaning content in favor of right-leaning perspectives was clear. “Having the platform controlled by, essentially, an extension of the Trump campaign is problematic,” Flaherty argued, alluding to Musk’s public support for the former president and his administration.
Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a prominent backer of Trump’s political endeavors, including making substantial financial contributions to pro-Trump super PACs. Federal Election Commission records show that Musk donated nearly $239 million to America PAC, a political action committee supporting Trump’s presidential bid. Musk’s role has expanded beyond the business world; he is now involved in Trump’s inner circle and has even been tasked with leading the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to tackle government waste.
While critics from the left may argue Musk’s influence could tilt the political scales, many conservatives view him as a champion for free speech, questioning whether left-wing bias is being exposed in major tech platforms. Musk’s support for Trump and his growing influence on social media could prove to be a game-changer in the 2024 election, with far-reaching implications for both sides of the political spectrum.