Elon Musk and the Media: A Shift from Scrutiny to Softballs

Since acquiring Twitter—now rebranded as X—in late 2022, Elon Musk has undergone a notable transformation in how he engages with the media. In the months following the purchase, Musk claimed he would do interviews across the political spectrum, citing appearances with both left-leaning BBC and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. But fast-forward two years, and Musk’s media choices seem to reflect a clear preference for friendly conversations over confrontational inquiries.

These days, Musk largely sticks to interviews that offer praise rather than probing questions. His media appearances often include platforms that align ideologically or offer minimal scrutiny, such as multiple guest spots on Fox News and informal podcast chats with figures like Joe Rogan and Senator Ted Cruz. The focus is rarely on his controversial statements or policies, particularly regarding his role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Internationally, Musk has also aligned with sympathetic audiences, attending events such as Italy's Lega party congress and the Dubai World Governments Summit. Domestically, he’s jumped into X Spaces sessions supporting political allies, including failed judicial candidate Brad Schimel. Though he occasionally responds to the White House press pool, Musk hasn’t accepted a challenging, high-stakes interview in over a year—aside from one particularly tense conversation in early 2024.

That rare hard-hitting interview came with former CNN anchor Don Lemon in March 2024. Lemon pressed Musk on the growing rightward tilt of X, as well as Musk’s statements on diversity and transgender issues. Musk bristled at the questioning, and the fallout was swift: a planned collaboration between Lemon and the platform was abruptly canceled after the interview aired.

Lemon later remarked on Musk’s sensitivity to being challenged, stating, “No one has been more touchy than Elon Musk.” He suggested that Musk, unaccustomed to being questioned by someone with differing views or backgrounds, struggled with being held accountable. Musk’s media history supports this assertion, as he has frequently shown disdain for traditional journalism and its role in challenging public figures.

His disdain was evident during a BBC interview in April 2023, when Musk admitted he leans more toward the “hate” side of his "love/hate" relationship with the media. At the time, he even boasted about stripping The New York Times of its verification badge on X. Furthermore, Musk has dismantled communication teams at his companies, making it virtually impossible for reporters to get official responses—often met with the infamous “poop” emoji instead.

Despite his powerful position and influence, Musk seems increasingly insulated from critical journalism. As CNN recently noted, stories involving Musk often state that he or his representatives did not reply to media inquiries. The confusion over who even manages Musk’s press relations—whether it’s the White House, his personal aides, or Musk himself—only deepens the mystery. During his tense exchange with Lemon, Musk clarified, “The only reason I’m doing this interview is because you’re on the X platform and you asked for it. Otherwise, I would not do this interview.”

(photo people.com)