Elon Musk is using his social media network to spread election conspiracy theories about U.S. disasters — just as online falsehoods are complicating the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Musk has helped spread accusations that the Federal Emergency Management Agency “actively blocked” donations to victims of Helene and is “seizing goods … and locking them away to state they are their own” — allegations that FEMA officials call false and which run afoul of state and local Republican leaders’ praise for the assistance from Washington.
On his social network, X, Musk also amplified rumors that authorities in North Carolina had “taken control to stop people helping” stricken residents and accusations that sheriffs were threatening to arrest FEMA staff “if they hinder rescue and aid work.” Many of his allegations centered on the claim that immigrants had already depleted federal disaster funds, which FEMA has said is untrue.
“FEMA used up its budget ferrying illegals into the country instead of saving American lives. Treason,” Musk wrote without evidence on X, where he interspersed messages about hurricane damage with political attacks on Democrats.
Besides owning X, Musk is the world’s richest person, the CEO of Tesla and the chief executive of SpaceX, a federal contractor that is using its Starlink satellite service to restore communications to communities cut off by Helene’s massive flood damage in the Southeast. He’s also a top donor to former President Donald Trump, who has been using his own social media network to level baseless claims that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas.”
Without mentioning Musk or Trump, FEMA leaders said Tuesday that misinformation is causing problems for Helene survivors, some of whom are being dissuaded from seeking help. They said it’s also harming emergency responders, whose morale has taken a hit amid threats to their safety.
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Article URL : https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/08/elon-musk-hurricane-disinformation-trump-00182769