Welp, Elon Musk, the world’s richest internet troll, has announced he’s 86ing the deal to buy Twitter, so let the MAGA meltdown begin. Right-wing tears are flowing as their demi-god leaves them in the lurch. The latest moves by the self-proclaimed “free speech” advocate prove what those on the left already knew – that it was all just a game. And social media was all over Musk’s long anticipated pull-out.
Elon backed out of the Twitter deal the moment he realized how much he was already paying in child support.
— Allen Weisselberger (@weisselbergers) July 8, 2022
The world’s most pathetic story in 4 tweets pic.twitter.com/S6K6VX9yH1
— Brett Meiselas (@BMeiselas) July 9, 2022
When Tesla CEO Elon Musk became what was at the time the largest shareholder of the popular social media app and later announced he was buying Twitter, the MAGA crowd rejoiced, unable to contain themselves at the thought of Musk “owning the libs.” They glorified some imaginary return to free speech that they somehow felt has been denied to right wingers.
Hooray for Elon Musk! Thank you Elon Musk for being a champion of our First Amendment Rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution!!
— Alan Kreimier (@alanthepilot) April 14, 2022
The Fox News host we love to hate, Tucker Carlson, weighed in:
“It looks possible that Elon Musk will seize control of Twitter and end censorship on that platform. Now, why should you care about that? It’s like a tech story, right? Who cares about social media, here’s why you should care, because if that were to happen, we could see a return of free speech to the United States and nothing should give you more hope than that possibility.”
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-CO):
.@elonmusk’s fight for free speech is patriotic and necessary.
He deserves the Medal of Freedom.
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) April 14, 2022
Conservative troll Tim Pool:
Elon is winning https://t.co/sPguyR48yD
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) April 25, 2022
Senator Hairspray herself, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN):
Today is an encouraging day for freedom of speech. I am hopeful that Elon Musk will help rein in Big Tech’s history of censoring users that have a different viewpoint.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 25, 2022
But it would be short-lived. The South African-born narcissist only succeeded in doing what he always does: fail to follow through and tank stocks in the process — and break conservative hearts along the way.
NEW: @ElonMusk moves to end @Twitter deal. Free speech will remain under attack here.
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) July 8, 2022
Hat’s off to @elonmusk for convincing the world he wanted to protect free speech, when all he wanted was a cover to sell $20B in Tesla stock at peak valuation without spooking the market.
Brilliantly done, sir.
— Ibrahim (@ialhusseini) July 8, 2022
Someone sounds salty.
When Musk said he was buying Twitter, he equated it to a “town square” and said that he wanted to foster “free speech,” bolstering that vow by saying he would allow accounts like those of banned ex-President Donal Trump back on the platform.
But it wasn’t long before Musk began tap-dancing around his commitment, claiming that the platform refused to disclose the number of bots or “fake” accounts allowed. It was something that he was well aware of prior to agreeing to buy Twitter for a reported $44 billion and waiving his due diligence rights. His foreknowledge was highlighted in a lawsuit filed by shareholders, who accused the billionaire of being disingenuous in his statements.
Twitter, however, still intends to hold Musk to the original agreement. Twitter board chairman Bret Taylor tweeted:
The Twitter Board is committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Mr. Musk and plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement. We are confident we will prevail in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
— Bret Taylor (@btaylor) July 8, 2022
