Billionaire business magnate Elon Musk on Monday urged “independent-minded” Twitter followers to vote for Republicans in the midterm elections Tuesday, arguing that shared power between the two parties is better for the country.
“To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic,” Twitter’s new CEO wrote.
To independent-minded voters:
Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
“Hardcore Democrats or Republicans never vote for the other side, so independent voters are the ones who actually decide who’s in charge!” he added in a subsequent tweet.
It should come as no surprise that Musk himself is voting Republican tomorrow, as he made it clear earlier this year that he intended to do so.
“I have voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, historically – overwhelmingly. Like, I’m not sure, I might never have voted for a Republican, just to be clear. Now this election, I will,” he said during a discussion at a Miami tech conference in May.
On Twitter later that month, Musk said that he had previously voted for Democrats “because they were (mostly) the kindness party,” but now “they have become the party of division & hate.”
He also predicted at the time that the Democrats would unleash a dirty tricks campaign against him.
“Political attacks on me will escalate dramatically in coming months,” he tweeted on May 18. “The dirty tricks attacks will be next-level,” he added.
Less than a week after Musk became “Chief Twit,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressing concern that the Saudi royal family’s investment in Twitter, and could lead to “increased censorship, misinformation, or political violence.” However as Fox News noted, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal purchased his stake in Twitter long before Musk took control of the company.
“I write to draw your attention to potential national security concerns arising from the recently completed takeover of Twitter, Inc. by Elon Musk and a number of private investors,” Murphy wrote to Yellen. “Setting aside the vast stores of data that Twitter has collected on American citizens, any potential that Twitter’s foreign ownership will result in increased censorship, misinformation, or political violence is a grave national security concern.”
Back in May, Musk said that he wanted to buy Twitter to protect free speech and help it return to its politically neutral roots— “which effectively means upsetting the far right and the far left equally,” the billionaire explained at the time.
Notorious left-wing troll and alleged comedienne Kathy Griffin was suspended from Twitter on Sunday after she tweeted numerous posts urging people to vote for Democrats while impersonating Musk.
“Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended,” Musk explained on Twitter.
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
“Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning,” he added in a subsequent tweet. “This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue.”
Musk later joked that she was suspended for “impersonating a comedian,” and said she could have he account back for $8.00.
Griffin, in the meantime, continued rage-tweeting at Musk through her deceased mother’s Twitter account.