X owner Elon Musk took over the @America handle on his social media platform and is using the account to push his support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The world’s richest person, who attended Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, has attached the handle to his pro-Trump super PAC, America Pac.
The account had been registered to another user since 2010, but has been inactive the past four years, according to journalist Matt Binder.
The platform is allowed to take over inactive accounts, according to X policies. The company does not provide a clear definition of an inactive account, though it encourages users to log in at least every 30 days to keep their account active.
The original @America user now has the account handle @America123_12. The posts from that account – some of which had criticized Trump and Musk – remain up under the new account handle.
“Just woke up and found out Donald TRUMP is the president of me?…..Brb,” the user wrote in a post from 2019.
When Musk posted “FREE AMERICA NOW” in 2020, the original @America user replied: “Freedom is not the question here, its safety. You’re irresponsible. Are you even a full time resident?”
The social media platform similarly seized the @X handle from its longtime user last year when the app rebranded under Musk’s ownership.
Musk’s personal account bio now directs users to the @America to “understand why I’m supporting Trump for President.”
“America PAC was created to support candidates who champion Secure Borders, Sensible Spending, Safe Cities, Fair Justice System, Free Speech and Self-Protection,” the @America account bio read on Monday.
The America PAC is focused on registering voters and convincing Americans to vote early and via mail-in ballots in swing states — an effort to counter Democrats’ “get out the vote” campaigns.
The PAC is currently offering supporters $47 for each registered voter they refer who signs a petition in support of the First and Second Amendments.
The account also posted a video of Musk attending Sunday night’s NFL game in Pittsburgh between the Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. The clip shows him waving a terrible towel from a suite during his visit to the key swing state.
The super PAC is reportedly backed by other major investors like Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale and the Winklevoss twins, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Musk – the founder of Tesla and SpaceX – has grown increasingly outspoken in his support for Republican candidates.
On Saturday, he joined Trump on stage during a rally in Butler, Pa. – the site of the first assassination attempt on the former president.
“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution,” Musk said. “He must win to preserve democracy in America.”
Musk has backed the Republican party financially, as well. In August, he cut a check to the National Republican Congressional Committee for $289,100, according to Federal Election Commission records.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
