Conservative voices accused Elon Musk of censorship Friday after several accounts critical of him lost premium features on X. At least 14 accounts, including prominent right-wing influencers, reported losing their blue verification badge late Thursday or Friday. Conservatives stated that Elon Musk’s silencing critics on X is linked to their criticism of Musk’s pro-immigration stance amid heated debates on future U.S. immigration policies.
Many accounts losing verification removed access to key monetization tools such as subscription revenues and ad revenue sharing. Users, including media brand ConservativeOG members, called this decision a betrayal of Musk’s self-proclaimed advocacy for free expression. Musk acquired X, formerly Twitter, in 2022 after criticizing alleged conservative censorship.
Hours before complaints surfaced, Musk defended X’s algorithms for reducing reach based on frequent blocks or mutes by verified users. He denied any official action targeting critics but failed to respond publicly to specific accusations of shadowbanning or account suppression.
Several affected accounts, such as those belonging to Ryan Fournier and Laura Loomer, accused Musk of direct retaliation. Loomer claimed her account was demonetized shortly after criticizing Musk’s support for H-1 B Visas. She labeled Musk’s actions an attack on traditional Trump-era immigration policies.
Critics within the MAGA movement suggested Musk, himself an immigrant, as a “Trojan horse,” undermining conservative values from within. Andrew Torba, Gab’s far-right CEO, openly condemned Musk’s actions, inviting dissatisfied users to join his platform instead.
This incident reignites debates over Musk’s promise to champion free speech after similar suspensions of journalists and accounts in prior years. While Elon Musk silencing critics on X raises questions of platform governance, right-wing figures now challenge his standing in the conservative space.
