The declare: Picture exhibits Musk publish saying Trump will ‘do something I inform him to do’
A Nov. 17 Fb publish (direct link, archive link) consists of a picture of what seems to be an X publish from billionaire Elon Musk about his affect on President-elect Donald Trump.
“Lib media already attempting to create a schism between me and Trump, saying I’m overstaying my welcome at Mar a Lago, that I’m annoying him, ha!!!” reads the textual content of the purported X publish. “Trump and I are as stable as may be. He is aware of I received him elected and he’s going to do something I inform him to do.”
The publish was shared 100 instances in 12 days. Different variations of the declare unfold on Threads and X.
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Our score: Altered
The picture is fabricated and was first shared by a Reddit consumer who labeled it that manner. There is no such thing as a proof Musk made the assertion attributed to him.
Not all of Musk’s picks have been chosen by Trump
Musk spent tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to assist re-elect Trump and appeared alongside him at numerous events. Trump quipped at a Nov. 14 Mar-a-Lago occasion that he “cannot get him (Musk) out of right here,” The Independent reported.
However the declare that Musk posted to X about his supposed affect on Trump is baseless.
No such assertion appeared on Musk’s X account. Nor was there an archived version of the supposed publish. There are additionally no information reviews from reliable shops about Musk making any such remark.
Earlier than it was shared on Fb, the picture was posted to Reddit in a forum that says all of its posts “must be thought of ironic/parodic/satirical” except famous in any other case. The Reddit publish included a “faux information” label, and the consumer who posted the picture has a bio that describes them as a “faux tweet author.”
The Fb publish is an instance of what might be referred to as “stolen satire,” wherein content material initially written and introduced as parody is captured and reposted in a manner that makes it seem genuine. Consequently, readers of the second-generation publish are misled, which is what occurred right here.
Reality examine: Video of Rachel Maddow tearing up over Elon Musk publish is altered
Trump has publicly praised Musk on quite a few events, together with throughout his election night victory speech wherein he referred to as the Tesla CEO a “tremendous genius.”
That stated, Trump has not at all times agreed with Musk’s advisable picks for numerous positions in his second administration, as Reuters reported.
For instance, whereas Musk backed Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick for treasury secretary, Trump as a substitute stated he would nominate former Soros Fund Administration govt Scott Bessent for the Cupboard publish. Lutnick was later named Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary.
USA TODAY has debunked an array of altered photographs purporting to indicate statements from Musk, together with ones wherein he supposedly threatened to droop X customers for mocking him and calling Trump supporters “bizarre.”
USA TODAY reached out to the Reddit consumer who posted the picture and the Fb consumer who shared it for remark however didn’t instantly obtain responses.
Reuters and the Australian Associated Press additionally debunked the declare.
Our fact-check sources
- r/ToiletPaperUSA (archive), accessed Nov. 27, About
- @Soyboypilled (archive), accessed Nov. 27, Reddit bio
- Elon Musk, accessed Nov. 27, X account
- Ghost Archive, accessed Nov. 27, Archived Elon Musk X posts
- @Soyboypilled (archive), Nov. 16, Reddit post
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( headline and story edited by our workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
