Twitter may be about to become a less hostile platform for conservatives.
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has purchased a huge stake in Twitter stock, making him its largest outside shareholder, CNBC reported.
Musk owns 73,486,938 shares of Twitter, which represents a 9.2% passive stake in the company, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission 13G filing released Monday. The stake is worth $2.89 billion, based Twitter’s closing price Friday.
“Oh hi lol.” Musk tweeted after his massive purchase hit the news.
Oh hi lol
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 4, 2022
The move comes less than two weeks after the Tesla CEO tweeted that Twitter was “undermining Democracy” due to its failure to uphold the principles of free speech.
“Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy,” Musk tweeted. “What should be done?”
Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.
What should be done? https://t.co/aPS9ycji37
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
Many conservatives, like South Korean commentator Kangmin Lee, encouraged Musk to use his purchasing power to rectify the situation.
Just buy Twitter, bro,” Lee tweeted.
Just buy Twitter bro
— Kangmin Lee | 이강민 (@kangminjlee) March 27, 2022
In recent years, alternative social media platforms have emerged, such as Parler, GAB, Telegram, Gettr, and Truth Social, that allow conservatives to express facts and opinions that oppose ruling class narratives without the fear of being deplatformed. However, because those platforms cater to people on the right, liberals dismiss them as “disinformation” outlets, and many conservatives consider them to be little more than echo chambers.
Twitter attracts people from all ideologies, making it a battlefield of ideas where the issues of the day can be debated. This is why it has remained an attractive platform for conservative activists, who would like to see it reformed.
“Musk could try to take a more aggressive stance here on Twitter,” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “This eventually could lead to some sort of buyout.”
Ives added: “This makes sense given what Musk has at least been talking about, at least from a social media perspective.”
In the wake of Musk’s purchase, Twitter stock has surged more than 26 percent.
Late last month, Musk, who has more than 80 million followers on Twitter, also tweeted that he was thinking about building an alternative social media platform that respects free speech rights.
Am giving serious thought to this
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
Now that Musk is Twitter’s largest shareholder, conservatives are hoping that users who were banned, including former President Trump, will be reinstated on the platform.
As Twitter's biggest shareholder, Elon Musk should demand to have President Trump reinstated.
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) April 4, 2022
Now that @ElonMusk is Twitter’s largest shareholder, it’s time to lift the political censorship.
Oh… and BRING BACK TRUMP!
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) April 4, 2022
Bring back Trump, @elonmusk. https://t.co/hUz8GBOdmR
— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) April 4, 2022
I hope you push for Twitter to reinstate everyone that they’ve banned over the past 5 years, including Trump. We need a real free speech giant to save the spirit of free speech in America.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 4, 2022
Can you imagine if Elon Musk actually unbans Donald Trump? Can you imagine the outrage? Can you imagine how much energy it could produce for the world if we could harness outrage?
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 4, 2022
Let Trump Speak.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) April 4, 2022
Once Elon Musk becomes an active shareholder of Twitter the first thing he should do as the controlling member of the board of the directors should be to reinstate President Trump's Twitter account.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 4, 2022
Not only do we need Trump back in the White House we need him back on Twitter giving us hourly updates! Also good for Twitter stock price! And free speech! @elonmusk
— Randy Quaid (@RandyRRQuaid) April 4, 2022
Hi @elonmusk,
Please use your new influence over Twitter to Save America by allowing President Donald Trump to return to the platform.
BRING BACK TRUMP
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) April 4, 2022
Some users had a “to do list” for Musk, that include ending Twitter’s practice of censoring and “shadowbanning” conservative accounts.
.@ElonMusk is now the largest shareholder of Twitter.
Time to get this platform back to its former glory.
Step one – bring back President Trump!
Step two – give everyone who has been banned a second chance.
Step three – end all forms of political and other censorship.
— Errol Webber (@ErrolWebber) April 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/MAGAJew2/status/1510970408216023049?s=20&t=Ab9Z3ozZgEfmjkE-hmtn5w
Twitter to-do list for @elonmusk:
– Buy all of it.
– End shadowbanning.
– Open source curating of trends.
– Stop “misinformation” warnings.
– Don’t ban science (gender & covid).
– Reinstate Alex Berenson, Dr. Robert Malone, Pres Trump & Babylon Bee.
– Commit to FREE SPEECH.— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) April 4, 2022