Facebook Twitter Tumblr Close Skip to main content
A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Congress Not Proposing to Give Itself 40% Raise

Congress Not Proposing to Give Itself 40% Raise

Elon Musk, who has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to lead a committee to ferret out government waste, wrongly posted to X that members of Congress are trying to vote themselves a 40% raise. The maximum possible raise in 2025 would be 3.8%, not 40%.

No Evidence Musk Threatened to Ban X Users Celebrating Hunter Biden’s Pardon

No Evidence Musk Threatened to Ban X Users Celebrating Hunter Biden’s Pardon

Elon Musk trolled President Joe Biden on X after Hunter Biden’s pardon, sharing a community note mocking the president’s previous post that said, “No one is above the law.” Soon after, a Threads post falsely claimed Musk threatened “anyone glorifying” the pardon “will be suspended from X permanently.” There’s no evidence Musk made such a statement.

Elon Musk Has Not Blocked Pride-Related Content from X, Contrary to Posts

Elon Musk Has Not Blocked Pride-Related Content from X, Contrary to Posts

X owner Elon Musk has rolled back policies intended to protect transgender people from harassment on his platform. But social media posts falsely claimed Pride-related content has now been “blocked on X permanently,” citing a purported “late-night announcement” by Musk. The claim originated on a satirical website.

Musk’s Starlink Was Not Connected to Vote Tabulation, Contrary to Online Claims

Musk’s Starlink Was Not Connected to Vote Tabulation, Contrary to Online Claims

Elon Musk’s Starlink system helped provide internet access to communities affected by the recent hurricanes. But online posts spread baseless claims that Starlink “uploaded votes in swing states” and helped Donald Trump win the election. Experts said voting machines are not connected to the internet during tabulation; one state election official called the claims “utter garbage.”

Musk Did Not Ban Stephen King from X, Contrary to Online Claims

Musk Did Not Ban Stephen King from X, Contrary to Online Claims

Social media posts falsely claim that Elon Musk banned author Stephen King from X, the social media platform owned by Musk. The rumor that King was banned originated on a satirical website. King’s X account remains active, and he used it on Nov. 13 to debunk the claim.

Google’s ‘Where to Vote’ Search Result Reflects Quirk of Candidate Surname, Not Bias

Google’s ‘Where to Vote’ Search Result Reflects Quirk of Candidate Surname, Not Bias

Social media users alleged bias against former President Donald Trump when a Google search on Election Day for “where to vote” returned an interactive map to find a person’s polling station when including the word “Harris” but not “Trump.” The reason is because “Harris” is a county in Texas, whereas “Trump” is not a location.

America PAC

A pro-Donald Trump super PAC that was created by billionaire Elon Musk.

Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions, Contrary to Viral Claim

Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions, Contrary to Viral Claim

Public health organizations have explained that the reason there were far fewer cases of the flu in 2020 and 2021 was likely due to measures adopted to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, such as handwashing and social distancing. But a post on social media has spread the false claim that the dip in flu cases suggests that COVID-19 was a hoax.

Social Media Posts Misleadingly Edit and Misrepresent Biden Remarks from Teleprompter

Social Media Posts Misleadingly Edit and Misrepresent Biden Remarks from Teleprompter

President Joe Biden quoted the Supreme Court majority opinion on ending the constitutional right to abortion in remarks he made on July 8. Social media posts falsely claim he mistakenly read teleprompter cues. A White House press secretary told us Biden intentionally said “end of quote” and then said “repeat the line” for emphasis, and the full, live remarks support that explanation.