Former X Communications Chief Critiques Musk's Media Views Amid Rising Discourse

Elon Musk has been vocal about his distrust of traditional journalism, promoting "citizen journalism" on his social media platform X, while a former communications chief at X warns that social media cannot replace real journalism and stresses the need for mutual respect between journalists and communication professionals. Musk's AI chatbot Grok, designed to be politically neutral, has reportedly been adjusted to reflect more conservative views, including changing its response to the greatest threat to Western civilization from misinformation to low fertility rates, aligning with Musk's personal interests and political priorities. Musk's political stance is volatile, having switched between support and opposition to Trump, but he consistently targets vulnerable groups with controversial and exclusionary rhetoric, which has drawn significant criticism online. Meanwhile, Musk's gestures, such as a controversial salute perceived by some as Nazi-like, have sparked outrage and disappointment, particularly with Jewish communities and organizations like the ADL, which some accuse of excusing his behavior. Public discourse surrounding Musk also highlights contradictions in how he and his conservative supporters perceive themselves versus how they are viewed externally, especially in light of political violence and rhetoric. Overall, Musk remains a polarizing figure who reshapes media and political narratives through his platforms and public statements, often igniting debates about media integrity, AI bias, and extremist rhetoric.