Elon Musk Accused of Silencing Conservative Voices on X Amid Immigration Dispute

Tech billionaire Elon Musk found himself at the center of accusations of censorship on Friday after several prominent conservative figures claimed they were targeted for criticizing his stance on immigration. These right-wing accounts reported that, after publicly opposing Musk’s views, they lost access to premium features on his social media platform, X. According to a review by NBC News, at least 14 of these conservative accounts revealed on Thursday and Friday that their blue verification badges had been revoked, resulting in the loss of important features such as the ability to monetize their content through subscriptions and ad revenue-sharing. Some accounts suggested the number of those impacted was actually much higher.

Although the accounts in question remained active on X, they no longer had access to the monetization tools they had previously used. Several of the affected users expressed concerns about the future of their online presence, with some worrying that the lack of financial support could hinder their ability to continue posting content on the platform. The controversy highlights growing tensions over free speech, platform policies, and political disagreements on social media.

Some conservatives expressed feelings of betrayal by Elon Musk, who had acquired the platform, then known as Twitter, in 2022. One of the reasons Musk cited for purchasing the service was his belief that it had unfairly restricted conservative voices. Since then, Musk has positioned himself as a champion of free speech, even as he has called for the imprisonment of some of his critics. These conservatives now see the recent actions taken by X, the platform Musk owns, as a contradiction to his earlier promises, especially after many accounts reported losing access to important premium features following their criticism of his immigration views.

On Friday, neither Musk nor X responded to requests for comment regarding the situation. However, the controversy seemed to escalate after Musk made a post on X late Thursday night, just before several conservatives began reporting issues with their accounts. In his post, Musk offered what he referred to as “a reminder” to users. He explained that the platform’s algorithm automatically limits the reach of users who are frequently blocked or muted by other credible accounts. Musk clarified that if a user’s account is blocked or muted by significantly more verified, credible accounts than those who engage positively with their posts, the user’s reach will be significantly reduced.

Despite Musk’s attempt to explain the algorithm’s behavior, the post only fueled further accusations. Critics, particularly those from the conservative side, interpreted Musk’s explanation as an admission of “shadowbanning.” They argued that the reduced engagement on their posts was a covert way of limiting their visibility without officially notifying them of such actions. These users felt that Musk’s approach was consistent with censorship, which contradicted his earlier promises of promoting free speech on the platform. The situation has sparked widespread debate about the balance between moderation, free expression, and political bias on social media platforms.

The actions taken by X occurred amid a fierce online debate surrounding the future of immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump. A faction of staunch anti-immigration supporters, including many loyal to the MAGA movement, voiced their opposition to the growing influence of pro-immigration tech figures such as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. These critics accused the tech executives and investors of pushing an agenda that contradicted the hardline immigration stances many of Trump’s supporters advocated for.

Several of the affected accounts were linked to one particular media group, ConservativeOG, which has garnered a strong following among conservative audiences. Preston Parra, a 23-year-old influencer and the head of ConservativeOG, was vocal in his belief that the actions taken by X were politically motivated. He argued that the platform’s decision to strip these accounts of premium features was an attempt at a “political takedown,” carried out in retaliation for publicly opposing Musk’s pro-immigration views.

Parra expressed his determination to continue challenging Musk, not only in efforts to restore the premium features that were revoked but also to push for the adoption of stricter immigration policies by President Trump. He made it clear that his fight was not just about regaining access to monetization tools but also about ensuring that Trump’s administration would prioritize immigration restrictions, a policy stance that Parra and his followers strongly support.

In a defiant message, Preston Parra, the head of ConservativeOG, expressed his belief that the true backbone of the right-wing and MAGA movement would not stand by while tech billionaires from Silicon Valley—whom he described as “dweebs” who were never properly “bullied” in high school—attempted to “steal our country.” Parra’s fiery remarks highlighted his view that figures like Musk and other tech moguls were undermining the values and interests of the conservative movement. He went as far as labeling Musk a “Trojan horse” within the Trump camp, suggesting that Musk’s political affiliations and actions were deceptive and could ultimately harm the broader conservative agenda.

This criticism came in the wake of Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy being tapped by Donald Trump to lead a new initiative called the “Department of Government Efficiency,” which was announced to significant fanfare shortly after the November 5 election. However, in recent days, after venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan was named as a White House adviser on AI policy, Musk and Ramaswamy—along with other figures in Trump’s tech circle—have come under increasing scrutiny from the far-right. Critics have focused on their past statements and positions regarding legal immigration, with some far-right conservatives questioning their loyalty to the more hardline immigration policies that Trump’s supporters have long championed.

Musk’s own status as an immigrant has been a point of contention. Born and raised in South Africa, Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002. His background as an immigrant, while a point of pride for some, has also made him a target of criticism from those on the far-right who argue that figures like Musk, who have personal ties to immigration, might not fully align with their stricter views on immigration control.

Among the accounts that lost access to premium features on X were several high-profile conservative voices, including Ryan Fournier and Laura Loomer, both of whom have over a million followers each. These accounts, along with others from the ConservativeOG network, have been at the center of the growing controversy, with their users accusing Musk and X of engaging in censorship and political retaliation.

Ryan Fournier, a co-founder of Students for Trump, revealed that he had held a blue verification badge on X since 2016, but this week, he unexpectedly lost it. Fournier expressed his confusion over the removal, stating on X that he had “no clue why” his verified status was revoked. He did not provide further comment when asked about the situation.

The premium subscriptions on X offer a range of advantages, including increased visibility in replies to other users’ posts, which boosts engagement, and the ability to apply for sharing ad revenue. Losing these features has significant implications for users who rely on the platform for both reach and income.

Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and a close ally of Trump, was also affected by X’s actions. She claimed that X had demonetized her account, cutting off her ability to earn revenue through subscriptions and other monetization options. Loomer’s blue verification checkmark was also revoked about two days after she began criticizing Musk’s stance on tech industry visas, which she opposed.

Loomer intensified her criticism of Musk and the tech elite, calling them “termites who have descended upon Palm Beach.” She made this remark on Tuesday, referring to the tech billionaires who were in the area while Trump was working on his presidential transition at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Loomer continued her outspoken critique throughout the week, underscoring her frustration with Musk and the tech industry’s influence on political and immigration issues.

On Thursday, Elon Musk referenced Laura Loomer in a post, dismissing her as “trolling for attention” and advising others to “ignore” her. However, just hours after Musk’s post, Loomer reported that her account had lost access to premium features on X. Loomer quickly responded by claiming that the action was retaliation for her support of original Trump immigration policies, stating that it seemed like Musk was trying to silence her. She criticized the changes to her account, calling them “retaliation,” but did not offer any further comment when contacted.

Meanwhile, Andrew Torba, the CEO of Gab, a far-right social media platform, has previously expressed admiration for Musk. However, on Friday, Torba took a different stance, openly criticizing Musk for silencing voices like Loomer’s. He invited those disillusioned with X’s actions to join Gab, positioning his platform as an alternative for users who feel marginalized on mainstream social media. Torba, who is openly antisemitic, used the occasion to further promote his controversial views, stating that people had “two choices: be racist or be replaced.” His remarks reflect the increasingly polarizing rhetoric surrounding the debate over social media moderation and free speech.

This isn’t the first time that Elon Musk and X have faced accusations of silencing users, despite Musk’s public pledges to support free speech. In September, X temporarily suspended a journalist after he posted private personal information, sharing a document that appeared to have been unlawfully obtained from Trump’s campaign. The incident sparked controversy over the platform’s actions, despite Musk’s earlier promises to create an environment that upholds free expression.

Back in 2022, X also drew criticism when it suspended the accounts of several journalists who had been reporting on Musk himself. These suspensions, along with the more recent actions, have led to growing concerns about censorship on the platform under Musk’s leadership.

Additionally, X has taken down or temporarily suspended accounts that were critical of or opposed to Trump. In July, for instance, the account “White Dudes for Harris,” which supported Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump, was suspended. The following month, in August, X took similar action by briefly shutting down the “Progressives for Harris” account. These actions have fueled ongoing debates about the platform’s handling of political content and whether Musk’s vision of free speech is being undermined by selective moderation.