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Elon Musk has defended his move to demonetize critics on his social media platform X, arguing that monetization privileges are not protected under free speech.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you haven’t been paying attention, over the last two weeks, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have faced intense criticism from Trump-aligned conservatives over their support for H-1B visas, a program that allows high-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in industries like tech. The backlash began after Musk argued that Silicon Valley relies on such visas because there aren’t enough qualified US-born engineers, a statement many MAGA supporters interpreted as an attack on American workers. Critics accused Musk of favoring foreign labor to the detriment of domestic job opportunities, labeling the visa program as a tool to undercut wages and American talent. While Trump supporters vocally opposed Musk’s stance, their discontent grew as he doubled down, even endorsing posts that harshly criticized Americans’ skill levels. This led to some accounts losing their verification status, which ends their monetization on X’s platform. In addition, hundreds of accounts were suspended.
What’s going on now: In a series of posts on X, Elon Musk defended his decision to demonetize critics on the platform, emphasizing that free speech does not guarantee paid speech. Musk clarified that the First Amendment protects individuals’ right to express opinions but does not extend to monetization privileges or platform benefits. He responded to accusations of censorship by pointing out the high viewership metrics of his critics’ posts, arguing that the ability to reach millions contradicts claims of being silenced. Musk mocked critics like Nick Fuentes, writing, “Claiming censorship while simultaneously getting millions of views is the clearest possible evidence” of flawed reasoning.
Musk’s supporters echoed his stance, with one remarking, “You can say whatever you want. You just can’t get paid for it.” Critics impacted by Musk’s demonetization policies argue that the issue goes beyond lost income, focusing instead on the potential harm to their ability to reach audiences. Many have claimed that losing verification badges diminishes their visibility and credibility on the platform, making it harder for their content to be discovered and shared.
Where Trump lands: Despite all the pushback, President-elect Donald Trump has come out in support of H-1B visas, marking a departure from his more critical stance during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump, who previously argued that the program took jobs away from Americans, now emphasizes its importance for industries requiring high-skilled professionals, particularly in fields like technology and hospitality. This shift has drawn criticism from some of his MAGA base, who view the visa program as a threat to American workers.
