Shooting Conspiracies Trend on X as Musk Endorses Trump

Conspiracy theories surrounding the shooting at a Donald Trump rally began spreading on X, formerly known as Twitter, almost immediately after the incident was reported. Topics such as “#falseflag” and “staged” quickly trended, highlighting the platform's continued commitment to free speech, which often includes misinformation.

Elon Musk, owner of X, has been vocal about his support for free speech on social media, even when it involves promoting dubious claims. Following the shooting, Musk announced his “full endorsement” of Trump. According to Bloomberg, Musk recently made a significant donation to a super PAC supporting Trump's reelection campaign. Over the years, Musk has increasingly aligned himself with conservative ideologies, endorsing controversial theories and expressing support for white pride. His endorsement adds to a growing chorus of influential voices in Silicon Valley backing Trump's campaign.

While X saw an uptick in conspiracy-laden content, other major social media platforms took a more cautious approach. YouTube predominantly showcased news clips and directed searches toward credible reports and verified creators. Facebook's search results mainly pointed to established news outlets, a decision made easier by the platform's removal of its trending topics section in 2018 following widespread criticism. Threads, another social media platform, occasionally displayed conspiracy-related posts but did not consistently surface them.

Attempts to get a comment from X were unsuccessful, with an automated reply stating, “Busy now, please check back later.” Despite this, the platform appears to be embracing its identity as a hub for diverse discussions, accurate or not. Even as conspiracy theories trended, X’s official account posted a brief message: “global town square.”