Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and the world's richest man, has struck a deal to buy Twitter on April 25, 2022, for $44 billion,[1] sparking mixed responses from users on the social media platform and across online space. Many see Musk's purchase of the platform as a move towards increased freedom of speech and reduced regulation of mainstream social media, while others view Musk's perceived laissez-faire approach to hate speech as a boon to extremists hoping to return to Twitter, as many have previously been banned from the platform for violating its terms of service.
While many extremists did advocate for a return to the platform, with prominent users establishing new or reactivating old Twitter accounts, others called for caution and suggested that Musk's past statements may indicate an uptick in surveillance on Twitter.
Some groups, such as the "Groypers" flocked to the platform, claiming "victory." Conversely, other groups and individuals, such as several Three Percenter adherents, warned that Musk is not the savior he is purported to be.
The following report highlights neo-Nazi and white supremacist reactions to Elon Musk's deal to buy Twitter.
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Extremists Celebrate Musk's Purchase, Call For Takeover Of Twitter And 'Cleansing' Of Liberals
Groypers Express Excitement And Call For Mass Adoption Of Twitter
In a series of posts on his Telegram channel on April 25, a senior member of the "America First" movement posted a GIF of the Joker character laughing and the text: "LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOO. We're back."
The individual later devoted a livestream to the news, saying Musk's purchase of Twitter will lead to an "inevitable" Groyper victory. He stated: "Going live in a half hour to discuss Twitter news and my game changing announcement. I have never been more optimistic about the future of America First after the events of the last 24 hours! America First is LIVE! Discussing Elon Musk BUYING TWITTER and the inevitable Russian Victory in Ukraine. WE ARE INEVITABLE!!!"
Another prominent Groyper celebrated Musk's purchase of Twitter, stating: "LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," in an April 25 post on his Telegram channel.
The individual's Twitter account was suspended on April 26, when he posted: "Blackpilled again :(" with an image of his suspension notification.
A third prominent Groyper published a Gab post celebrating Musk's purchase of Twitter on April 25, stating: "Pretending as if Elon Purchasing Twitter is a bad thing seems to be oddly common among some people on the right... living in a Echo chamber forever can't work, Pissing black twitter off does"
On his Telegram channel, the individual declared: "LARGEST SPACE ON TWITTER[;] GROYPERS RUN THIS PLATFORM[;] OUR PLATFORM," after the live space "GROYPERS RETURN" was listed as the largest on Twitter.
Another "Groyper" celebrated the purchase in a tweet on April 26, saying: "The Groypers are back, we are so back." The post included an image of former President Trump leading a mob of Groypers.
U.S.-Based Neo-Nazis Celebrate Musk's Twitter Purchase
A prominent neo-Nazi website published an article on April 26 titled: "Holy Shit! Jeff Bezos Just Publicly Accused Elon Musk of Being a Chinese Agent!" The article defends Musk, stating: "Bezos understands what is going on here – Elon's takeover of Twitter with the populist goal of restoring freedom of speech is the biggest power play anyone has made in a very long time. We are seeing teams emerging now, as the elite fractures. The accusation that Elon is a Chinese agent is outrageous and insane, and Bezos should be sued. 'Leverage over Twitter' doesn't even make any sense. You can't work out what that means. It is just a sassy, feminine way to accuse Musk of being a Chinese agent."
The founding chairman of a neo-Nazi political party predicted that neo-Nazis will take over Twitter, and included the "#ElonMusk" hashtag in an April 25 tweet which stated: "The future of Twitter is tens of thousands of accounts denying the #Holocaust and there is nothing that can stop it #ElonMusk #twittersold."
A Southern California-based neo-Nazi celebrated Musk's purchase of Twitter in an April 25 post on his Telegram channel, stating: "BREAKING: Elon Musk to buy Twitter. If the deal is completed, Twitter will become the first African-American-owned major tech company."
On April 25, a neo-Nazi Telegram channel posted a doctored image showing a tweet falsely attributed to Elon Musk with the white supremacist "14 words" slogan: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White children." The channel wrote: "Democracy Destroyed."
A neo-Nazi Gab user published two Gab posts on April 25 celebrating Musk's purchase. The first stated: "Elon Musk is going to get leftard panties in all kinds of knots by bringing Trump back." The second included a doctored image of the "Luke Crywalker" meme pasted over the Twitter logo.
Users discussed the possible repercussions of Musk's purchase in the Telegram chat of a neo-Nazi organization. One user stated: "All we want is free speech on Twitter. Let's watch and see what happens. It could be such a gamechanger." Other users liked the post, with one expressing his agreement.
On Telegram, a neo-Nazi channel posted an image on April 26 of armed soldiers walking through urban ruins, with the text: "Me and the boys as part of Elon Musk's personal death squad, we're hunting for Twitter employees." The channel wrote: "HUNT BEGINS."
On Twitter a neo-Nazi user tweeted a response on April 26 to a post commemorating Nazi Rudolph Hess by praising Musk and stating: "One day, when we succeed, [Rudolf Hess'] name will be revered and his face iconized. Elon is giving us the opportunity to reawaken the Aryan consciousness. Sieg Heil! \o."
A neo-Nazi user tweeted an image on April 26 suggesting that Musk single out Jewish Twitter users by replacing the blue check symbol granted to verified Twitter users with Nazi-era yellow star patches, stating: "'Yeah sorry Mr. Goldberg we are replacing your blue check.'"
U.S.-Based White Supremacists And Antigovernment Extremists Call For Musk To Adopt Absolute Free Speech On Twitter
A white supremacist organization tweeted a photo of group members hanging a banner on April 25, reading: "ELON MUSK – STOP WHITE GENOCIDE!" One member was shown giving a three-finger salute. The tweet read: "White people are a global minority and in many nations such as South Africa are hunted and murdered by hateful anti-Whites. You have a rare opportunity to call attention to the malice, hate, and genocide directed at Whites. Will you do what is right and try to save our people?"
On Twitter, a white supremacist group announced its return in an April 26 tweet, which stated: "Time travel apparently is real. It's like 2016 in here! Was lamenting all the lost friends and contacts just last week from the Telegram gulag. We'll see how this goes..."
A member of an antigovernment militia posted a graphic on April 26 in the militia's MeWe chat praising Musk for buying Twitter. The graphic included the head of the "Luke Crywalker" meme on a rocket lifting off with the text: "Thank you Elon Musk! Pedoweed, Groomers, Pedos, Libatards, WEF, UK, EU Going Ballistic Over Free Speech Twitter."
In a series of posts on their Telegram chat on April 25, the admin of an antigovernment militia posted an announcement celebrating Musk's purchase, stating: "BIG NEWS!! I posted this story a few times on TikTok. People are energized by it. Free speech truly is the foundation of liberty. Without it, the culture is shaped by one side of the story. On the other hand, liberals are very mad about losing one of their main tools."
Neo-Nazis Worldwide 'Praise Victory' After Musk Buys Twitter
A French neo-Nazi tweeted a response on April 26 to an AFP article announcing Musk's acquisition of Twitter, stating: "Sieg Heil."
On Gab, a Canadian neo-Nazi posted a celebration of Musk's purchase of Twitter on April 26, saying: "Meanwhile on twitter. #ElonMusk #DraintheSwamp #Biden #lesbians #feminists #faggots #trannies #globalists #pedophilia"
An Australian white supremacist website created a Twitter account on April 26, with its first tweet reading: "There is no way in hell that we'd be on Twitter if it wasn't for Elon Musk, god saviour, buying this horrible cesspit."
Extremists Express Concern Over Musk's Statements Regarding Privacy, Caution Others About Returning To Twitter
A Neo-Nazi Gab user warned others about returning to Twitter and providing the company with personal information in an April 25 post. The post included an image of Musk altered with the glasses of "Professor Farnsworth" from Futurama, with the text: "Good news, everyone. I've convinced Twitter to unban all your accounts. All they want in return is your social security numbers, you blood types, and your foreskins."
On Gab, a Canadian antigovernment user posted an assertion that Musk is controlled by China in an April 26 post. The post stated: "Yep, I feel the same way. I have read that Musk is financially backed by China and the CCP. China owns TicTok and in my opinion will be looking to leverage control over Twitter."
A neo-Nazi Gab user published a post on April 26 complaining that their reinstated account was quickly suspended: "Twitter reinstated my account this morning, but when I posted this, they blocked me again, wanting my cell number, then saying it was not a real number! Fuck you Elon you did not change anything!"
On April 26, a Three Percenter adherent posted a series of texts in the chat group of the antigovernment militia. The posts stated: "I am confused why so many are excited about elon... Could someone please explain to me why it was important for him to buy twitter? MeWe has free speech... So do many other social platforms."
In a Canadian antigovernment Telegram chat, a user posted a graphic on April 25, calling Musk "controlled opposition." The post stated: "Reminder: Elon Musk is helping to build a surveillance state around us and has a major role in the technocratic takeover, while also tweeting about freedom. And the masses are eating it up. This is what we call, controlled opposition and cognitive dissonance."
[1] Bbc.com/news/business-61222470, April 26, 2022.
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