Musk posted “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔” after Trump's apparent assassination attempt, then deleted the false claim, calling it a joke

Elon Musk has faced backlash after writing, “No one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala,” following an apparent

Newsweek 2024-09-16 Flynn Nicholls

Context & Ripple Effects

Musk's deleted post sits within a documented pattern of election-related claims on X. Researchers had already identified 50 false or misleading election claims posted by Musk in 2024 that generated nearly 1.2 billion views without Community Notes.

It also follows a prior deleted repost of a fabricated UK story, a false “detainment camps” claim that reached 1.8 million views. The recurrence makes the episode relevant not just as an individual post, but as a test of accountability when X's owner is also a prolific political speaker.

First-order effects

Musk faces immediate backlash over a post made in the aftermath of an apparent attack on Trump; deleting it and calling it a joke does not erase the exposure reported in related coverage, which exceeded 34 million views.
The episode puts renewed scrutiny on X's ability to apply its misinformation safeguards to its owner, particularly around election-related political content.

Second-order effects

Political figures, campaigns and media users have added incentive to treat Musk's posts as high-reach agenda-setting content rather than ordinary user speech, increasing the cost of delayed corrections.
The absence of Community Notes on the earlier set of Musk election claims sharpens questions about whether crowd-sourced moderation can respond consistently to posts from the platform's most influential account.

Third-order effects

If repeated owner-driven political misinformation continues to reach large audiences before deletion or correction, X's governance model may increasingly be judged by whether its rules apply equally to the owner and other users.
The broader structural risk is a platform environment in which distribution power, editorial influence and moderation authority are concentrated in the same individual, making perceived neutrality harder to sustain.

The trend: This is one instance of the growing collision between platform-owner speech, election discourse and the credibility of platform moderation.

Discussion

@cwarzel Charlie Warzel on threads
this is basically just saying: my group chats are an 8chan board
@daveleebbg Dave Lee on threads
In the wake of Musk's deleted tweet, and his reposting of fascist messaging and videos, let me remind you of the reason given for Apple banning Parler from the App Store in 2021. The site “encouraged violence, denigrated various ethnic groups, races and religions, glorified Nazi…
@karaswisher Kara Swisher on threads
Give me a fucking break. He knows what he is doing. His legal team intervened finally. What a toxic putz.
@tweet_removed @tweet_removed on threads
“Officer, I was just making a plaintext assassination joke! You don't get the context and nuance behind my emoji!”
@wsaletan Will Saletan on threads
Follow Musk's political trajectory, and this is where you'll end up: a social arsonist, just like the demagogue he worships.
@mac_ryan_ Ryan Mac on threads
All my jokes land in plain text
@kevinmkruse Kevin Kruse on threads
A lot of people might not know this, but usually the CEOs of companies with massive government contracts *don't* speculate publicly about the assassination of the president and vice president.
@mdoeff Mike Doeff on threads
Prediction... X is removed from Apple and Google app platforms in the next month. Musk's tweet about assasination and the rampant spread of celebrity / politician AI generated images is the last straw.
@mikedruckerisdead Mike Drucker on threads
He's so close to realizing that everyone in his life only pretends he's funny to keep the money flowing
@karaswisher Kara Swisher on threads
He's a defense contractor and has national security clearance and is tweeting incitements to violence. He needs a visit from the authorities asap.
@karaswisher Kara Swisher on threads
It's our fault for not laughing. — RE: https://www.threads.net/...
@tobyontv Toby Earle on threads
translated: my legal team told me to delete a tweet which put a target on the backs of Harris & Walz
@brittainforsenate Craig R. Brittain on threads
Elon Musk has confirmed the existence of the group chats where he coordinates his messaging with the people he follows and pays to spread his ideas. Everything you are allowed to see on Twitter, all of the biggest posts, he controls what gets amplified and what gets hidden, and …
@bird_hustle @bird_hustle on threads
Well, that took a couple of years, but he finally lear... oh, it's gone.
@lorakolodny Lora Kolodny on threads
Elon Musk posted on X, where he has 197.7 million listed followers (including bots) — 9/15/2024 - “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala [thinking face emoji]” This in response to a post from “Doge Designer” who had asked “Why they want to kill Donald Trump?”
@davmicrot David Rothschild on threads
Elon Musk is an obvious threat to US, he should not have any security clearance, there should be immediate discussions about a forced sale of SpaceX or breaking of contracts with them.
@phil.lewis Philip Lewis on threads
incredibly reckless tweet, even for Elon Musk
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
Well, one lesson I've learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn't mean it's going to be all that hilarious as a post on 𝕏
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔
@hasanthehun @hasanthehun on x
this is a defense contractor @FBI @SecretService @CIA
@jonahdispatch Jonah Goldberg on x
This is appalling and indefensible.
@joshtpm Josh Marshall on x
This man is a dangerous, degenerate influence within the American state. This is only a half step away from incitement to murder. Eventually the US will have take the necessary steps to expropriate with fair market compensation the national security assets Musk has acquired [imag…
@delavegalaw Elizabeth de la Vega on x
In all seriousness, as a former federal prosecutor, I can tell you that a statement like Elon Musk's below DOES require an immediate visit by the U.S. Secret Service. That is the protocol in every similar situation.
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don't know the context and the delivery is plain text
@bfriedmandc Brandon Friedman on x
This warrants both a visit from the Secret Service and a Senate hearing, given that he's a major defense and national security contractor [image]
@tldtoday @tldtoday on x
This is actually crazy. You've officially lost it dude and it's sad to see. A lot of people look up to you but you're being super irresponsible all because you crave attention
@teroterotero Tero Kuittinen on x
What on Earth.... how much darkness can this hell app contain... what is he DOING
@garymarcus Gary Marcus on x
If someone takes a shot on Biden or Harris or Walz after two registered Republicans took shots on Trump and Musk posted this insane tweet, we must consider Musk's role in any such violence. Elon is not ok. We should pretend this is ok.
@marclamonthill Marc Lamont Hill on x
This is a dangerous and disturbing provocation.
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@cb_doge Assassination is censorship in the limit
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@PTrubey @farzyness Fair enough. I don't want to do what they have done, even in jest.
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@farzyness No one has even tried to do so is the point I'm making and no one will
@davidaxelrod David Axelrod on x
Every time you think this guy could not be more irresponsible, he outdoes himself. What a dangerous, asinine thing to post.
@emptywheel @emptywheel on x
Richest man in the world confesses he's been talking about political violence in private discussions, tries to laugh it off. [image]

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