Over a month-long period, Elon Musk’s posts on X, the social media platform he owns, have centered heavily on politically charged topics, crime narratives and fringe conspiracy-leaning content, according to an analysis by NBC News. The examination of Musk’s public posts shows the world’s wealthiest person using his powerful account to weigh in on immigration to Britain, Western politics, online misinformation battles and a range of controversial claims, intensifying debate over how his personal activity shapes X’s broader information ecosystem.


Elon Musk speaking on stage with the X logo in the background
Elon Musk, owner of X, has increasingly used his personal account to comment on contentious political and social issues. Image: NBC News / rockcms

What the one-month analysis of Musk’s posts found

NBC News reporters reviewed roughly one month of Musk’s public posts and reposts on X, focusing on the themes, language and sources he amplified. According to the outlet’s description of its methodology, the analysis categorized posts by topic — including politics, crime, immigration, foreign policy and media criticism — and then examined which types of content were most frequent and most widely seen.

The review found that a broad cross-section of Musk’s posts engaged with what researchers and analysts often describe as the political fringe, including:

  • Comments amplifying concerns about immigration trends in Western countries, including the United Kingdom.
  • Posts highlighting high-profile crimes and viral allegations, often before full details were publicly confirmed by authorities.
  • Engagement with conspiracy-leaning narratives circulating on X, such as claims of hidden plots or coordinated cover‑ups, sometimes originating from accounts previously labeled as spreading misinformation by fact‑checking organizations.
  • Sharp criticism of mainstream media outlets and legacy institutions, framing them as untrustworthy or biased.

NBC News did not publish a complete dataset of every post it reviewed but said its analysis aimed to capture patterns in Musk’s public-facing activity rather than to provide an exhaustive archive. The outlet’s findings have not been independently verified in full by other newsrooms, though several of Musk’s most widely shared posts during the period are publicly visible on his profile.


Comments on immigration and Britain’s future

Among the posts that drew the most attention were Musk’s remarks about immigration to the United Kingdom. Citing videos and news snippets circulating on X, Musk suggested that current immigration trends could lead to the country’s “collapse,” echoing rhetoric more commonly found on hard‑line political accounts and message boards.

Critics, including some British lawmakers and advocacy groups, accused Musk of amplifying alarmist narratives about migrants and asylum seekers. They noted that immigration debates in the U.K. have long been politically charged, especially since the 2016 Brexit referendum, and warned that emotionally framed claims can fuel xenophobia.

Supporters of Musk’s posts argued that he was raising valid concerns about rapid demographic change, social cohesion and pressure on public services. Some right‑leaning commentators in Britain praised Musk for speaking candidly about issues they say are downplayed by mainstream media. Researchers at independent think tanks, however, pointed to Migration Observatory data showing a more complex picture of economic contributions, labor shortages and shifting migration routes.


Crime stories, viral allegations and conspiracy-leaning content

The NBC News analysis also highlighted Musk’s frequent engagement with crime-related posts, including videos of violent incidents, robbery footage and commentary suggesting that major cities in the United States and Europe are experiencing uncontrolled lawlessness.

This focus mirrors a broader trend on social media, where dramatic crime clips often outperform routine crime statistics or policy coverage. However, criminologists and public safety experts have consistently warned that viral incidents can distort public perception. Long‑term data from sources such as the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics show that crime patterns are uneven and frequently more nuanced than social media suggests.

Researchers cited by NBC News also pointed to Musk’s engagement with conspiracy-leaning narratives, including reposts or replies to accounts alleging hidden plots by governments or global organizations. While some of these posts were framed as questions or skepticism, critics say the sheer reach of Musk’s account — with tens of millions of followers — can mainstream fringe ideas even when evidence is thin or contested.

“When the owner of a platform elevates speculative or conspiratorial content, it can legitimize those narratives for a wide audience,” said one social media researcher interviewed by NBC News, describing the dynamic as “a powerful feedback loop.”

Musk’s argument: free speech and challenging the mainstream

Musk and his allies have repeatedly framed his approach to X as a restoration of free speech principles. Since acquiring the platform, formerly known as Twitter, in 2022, he has rolled back many of the company’s previous content moderation policies and reinstated a number of banned accounts. In his posts, Musk often criticizes what he calls “censorship,” “woke” ideology and “legacy media,” arguing that a wide range of viewpoints should be allowed, even if many find them offensive or extreme.

In public statements and interviews, Musk has said he sees X as a “digital town square” where robust debate is essential to democracy. He has also maintained that users should have tools to filter content they do not want to see, but that the platform itself should not heavily police political expression beyond enforcing laws.

Supporters say this philosophy has allowed for more open discussion on controversial topics, such as pandemic policies, U.S. elections and foreign conflicts. They view criticisms of Musk’s posting habits as attempts to pressure platforms into re‑imposing restrictions on speech, sometimes invoking past controversies over content moderation decisions by major tech firms.


Critics warn of misinformation and platform responsibility

Civil society groups, misinformation researchers and some former employees of the company, however, argue that Musk’s personal posts cannot be separated from X’s broader content ecosystem. As the platform’s owner and its most visible user, they say, his amplification of unverified or misleading claims can influence what users see, how journalists cover issues and how political actors communicate.

Organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have taken differing stances on Musk’s stewardship of X. Some warn that looser moderation has coincided with a rise in hateful or harmful content, while others emphasize the need to preserve robust free expression online while addressing targeted harassment and direct incitement.

Regulators in the European Union and other jurisdictions have also turned their attention to X. Under laws such as the EU’s Digital Services Act, large platforms can face scrutiny over how they handle illegal content, disinformation and systemic risks. Though the NBC News analysis focused on Musk’s personal posts rather than formal regulatory actions, experts say the two issues are intertwined, since the tone set by leadership can influence enforcement.


How Musk’s feed shapes X’s information ecosystem

X’s recommendation systems and trending algorithms can amplify posts based on engagement metrics such as likes, shares and replies. Analysts told NBC News that posts from Musk’s account often receive outsized engagement rapidly, boosting their visibility across the platform and sometimes prompting follow‑up coverage in traditional media outlets.

This creates what some describe as a “top‑down” influence pattern: content Musk chooses to highlight — whether a crime clip, a political claim or a link from a fringe website — can quickly reverberate through the network, regardless of whether it has been vetted by independent fact‑checkers or professional editors.

At the same time, Musk has promoted community-driven moderation features, including the “Community Notes” system, which allows users to collaboratively add context to posts that may be misleading or missing important details. Supporters point to instances where highly contested claims, including some amplified by Musk, were later accompanied by corrective notes visible to many users.


From Twitter to X: a brief background

Musk completed his purchase of Twitter in October 2022 and later rebranded the service as X. The acquisition marked one of the most significant transitions in the history of social media, handing control of a prominent global communications platform to a single, highly visible owner.

Before Musk’s tenure, Twitter spent years developing and revising policies on election integrity, health misinformation and hate speech, particularly following controversies around the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections and the COVID‑19 pandemic. Critics of those policies argued they sometimes overreached or lacked transparency, while supporters said they were necessary to curb the spread of harmful falsehoods.

Since the takeover, X has reduced many formal moderation teams and changed verification systems, partly in an effort to cut costs and shift toward a subscription-driven model. The NBC News review of Musk’s posts offers a snapshot of how the platform’s owner is using his voice during this new era, at a time when governments, news organizations and users are reassessing where they get their information.


Visuals: Musk, X and political discourse

While NBC News’ primary focus was textual analysis of Musk’s posts, images and visual branding have also played a role in how X presents itself as a forum for political debate and breaking news.

The X logo displayed on a large building facade
The rebranded X logo has become closely associated with Musk’s vision for a global “town square.” Image: Axios / Press photo

A smartphone screen showing the X social media app interface
X remains a major venue for real-time political conversation, even as it undergoes rapid change under Musk. Image: The New York Times


What this month on X reveals about Musk’s influence

NBC News’ snapshot of Musk’s posting habits underscores how one individual’s social media behavior can shape public debate, especially when that individual controls the platform itself. The month-long review suggests a sustained focus on immigration, crime and conspiracy‑tinged narratives, along with ongoing criticism of legacy media and political institutions.

Supporters see Musk’s activity as an effort to challenge established narratives and open space for viewpoints they believe are marginalized. Critics view the same posts as an example of how algorithmically amplified speech, especially from powerful figures, can blur lines between legitimate skepticism and the spread of unverified or misleading claims.

As X continues to evolve under Musk’s leadership, and as regulators, researchers and users scrutinize the platform’s role in shaping global conversation, the content of his personal feed is likely to remain a central point of contention in broader debates over free expression, platform responsibility and the future of online political discourse.