Musk helped kill a bill. But much of what he spread was misinformation

Washington: President-elect Donald Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk played a key role this week in killing a bipartisan funding proposal that would have prevented a government shutdown, railing against the plan in a torrent of more than 100 social media posts that included multiple false claims.

The X owner, an unelected figure, used his outsize influence on the platform to help sway Congress, doing so without regard for facts and gave a preview of the role he could play in government over the next four years.

Turn right: Some are asking if Elon Musk, right, will be Donald Trump’s “co-president”.Credit: AP

“Trump has got himself a handful with Musk,” John Mark Hansen, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, said in an email. “Trump’s done this kind of thing before – blowing up a bill at the last minute. This time, though, it looks like he was afraid of Musk upstaging him. Now there’s a new social media bully in town, pushing the champion social media bully around.”

Hansen added: “We’ll see what Musk’s influence is when he runs up against reality — like when he proposes cutting off ‘wasteful’ spending for other people but not NASA contracts for Space-X.”

Musk’s objections to the 1547-page omnibus bill included misinformation about congressional salaries, federal funding and public health preparedness, among other topics.

He alleged that the plan included a 40 per cent raise for lawmakers. But the maximum pay increase possible through the proposal would have been 3.8 per cent, according to the Congressional Research Service.

One way that members of Congress can receive a pay raise is through automatic adjustments that go into effect unless denied by law. Most members make $US174,000 ($278,000) per a year after their last increase of 2.8 per cent in 2009. Congressional leadership is the exception, with the Speaker of the House earning the most at $US223,500 annually.

The rejected bill struck a section from a previous appropriations act that denied members of Congress this automatic pay raise. A maximum increase of 3.8 per cent would have bumped their annual salary by about $US6600, to approximately $US180,000 annually.

Musk also shared a post from another user that falsely claimed the bill provided $U3 billion in funding for a potential new stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, commenting: “This should not be funded by your tax dollars!”

The bill included a provision to transfer control of the land that houses RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia. That transfer is necessary to pave the way for the Commanders to possibly build a new stadium in the franchise’s old home — though the team is still considering other locations.

However, no such funding is provided by the bill. It states, in fact, that the federal government “shall not be responsible for payment or any costs or expenses” that the District of Columbia incurs after the transfer is complete aside from responsibilities related to specific environmental issues.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the false claims, calling them “frustrating”.

“It was stated that the C.R. contains $3 billion for a stadium,” she said at a press conference. “All wrong.”

Bowser added that she has reached out to the Trump administration to correct misinformation about this issue.

In a third post, Musk incorrectly claimed that “We’re funding bioweapon labs in this bill!”

The plan provided funds for up to 12 regional biocontainment research laboratories, not facilities for creating bioweapons. It stipulates that among their uses, the labs will conduct biomedical research to prepare for biological agents such as emerging infectious diseases.

A spokesperson for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.

Some members of Congress expressed dismay that Musk had disseminated misinformation about the bill.

“I love you Elon but you need to take 5 seconds to check your sources before highlighting bottom feeders looking for clicks,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican, wrote on X.

In a hastily convened Thursday evening vote, the House rejected a Trump-backed bill whittled down to 116 pages. It later approved a revised bill to keep the government operating until at least March, one which ignored Trump’s demand to raise the country’s debt ceiling.

The New York Times reported Trump’s pressure to allow the government to shut down was based on a desire to have it happen under outgoing President Joe Biden.

“This is a Biden problem to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!” Trump posted on social media. Trump said he wanted Biden to be blamed for whatever political fallout might come, writing to Republicans: “Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.” the Times reported.

AP