An image shared on Facebook claims The New York Times published an article stating Elon Musk would not reverse former President Donald Trump’s ban.

Verdict: False

The image is digitally fabricated. A New York Times spokesperson denied the authenticity of the claim in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion following a months-long legal dispute between the two parties, The New York Times reported. He is already making changes to the platform, which included firing CEO Parag Agrawal and company head of legal, trust and safety Vijaya Gadde, according to The Verge.

The Facebook post purports Musk said that, while he would restore all banned Twitter accounts, Trump’s Twitter account would remain permanently suspended. “Elon Musk States Intention To Restore Every Banned Twitter Account, ‘Except for Donald Trump,'” the supposed article’s headline reads.

“It might seem petty but I just don’t like him,” a sub-headline follows. (RELATED: Did Donald Trump Release This Statement About Elon Musk’s Purchase Of Twitter?)

The image is digitally altered. The purported headline about Musk refusing to reverse Trump’s Twitter ban cannot be found via The New York Times’ website or its verified social media accounts. Likewise, neither Trump nor Musk have publicly commented on the claim.

“The New York Times did not write or publish that headline,” spokesperson Naseem Amini told Check Your Fact in an email. (RELATED: Did Donald Trump Release This Statement About Elon Musk’s Purchase Of Twitter?)

Musk officially acquired the social media platform Friday, according to CNN. Following the acquisition, Musk hinted he will be setting up a “content moderation council” to oversee decisions such as account reinstatements.

Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.

No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022

“Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints,” Musk said in a statement. “No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes,” he added. In the past, Musk has also considered reversing Trump’s Twitter ban, calling the ban “not correct.”

Check Your Fact has also contacted a Trump spokesperson for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.