Elon Musk's recent Twitter campaign against the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has given a platform to long-circulating conspiracy theories about the agency, echoing President Trump's own criticisms and ultimately contributing to the agency's potential dismantling. Musk has labeled USAID as a 'viper's nest of radical-left marxists' and 'evil,' echoing claims made in fringe online communities. This amplification of conspiracy theories, similar to the 'Twitter Files' controversy, raises concerns about the spread of misinformation and its influence on political decisions.
Musk drove fringe viewpoints on USAID into the mainstream on X as the Trump administration halted the humanitarian relief agency’s workUntil recently, Elon Musk seldom posted about the U.S. Agency for International Development on X, where he is wont to share his thoughts on nearly every subject.
We’re looking to hear from federal government workers. If you’re willing to talk with us, please email us at Influencers often collaborate with their audiences in that way to build conspiracy theories, according to Kate Starbird, a professor at the University of Washington, who was one of the earliest researchers to study online rumors.
A key voice behind both the Twitter Files and the USAID conspiracy theories is Mike Benz, a former Trump administration official-turned-conservative researcher whom Musk has promoted and interacted with on X more than 40 times in the past week. Benz, a self-described cybersecurity expert who briefly worked as an assistant deputy for international communications for the State Department under Trump, started tweeting about USAID in 2022.
But according to Benz’s posts, USAID’s crimes are plenty, and they go straight to the top, accusations he lobs in rapid speeches filled with acronyms and hyperbole.
ELON MUSK USAID CONSPIRACY THEORIES DONALD TRUMP FOREIGN AID DISINFORMATION
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