FACT CHECK: No, Elon Musk Did Not Change X’s Like Button To Promote Trump In Election
A post shared to X claims that X owner Elon Musk changed an animation feature linked to the platform’s like button to promote Donald Trump during the election.
🚨BREAKING: Elon has officially changed the like icon to promote Donald Trump during the elections! If you’re in support, like and retweet this to show your stance!#Election2024 #Trump #Kamala #FightForAmerica #ElectionDay #USElection2024 #USAElection2024 #ElonMusk2024#electio pic.twitter.com/q6Ilpz0y5F
— hermano sisi (@VivienteMe18581) November 5, 2024
Verdict: Misleading
X does have a feature to add animation to the like button with relevant hashtags, including an election-related feature. However, it was only implemented on certain posts and was not specific to Trump.
Fact Check:
Social media users were showing a video of them liking election-related posts on X and triggering the patriotic themed animation. One user declared that Musk had “officially changed the like icon to promote Donald Trump during the elections” and called on others to “like and retweet” if they are “in support.” The post included relevant tags such as “#Election2024,” “#Trump,” “#Kamala” and “#ElonMusk2024.”
This claim is misleading. The animation displays a ballot box decorated with stars, stripes, red, white and blue. It represents America as a whole rather than Trump. (RELATED: FACT CHECK: No, Elon Musk Did Not Say He Would Give Away His Fortune If Trump Loses Election)
In a X business blog post about Branded Features, the feature is activated for individual posts and is intended to help brands advertise and engage with their audiences and is not a permanent change to X’s like button across the platform.
Hashmojis, which designs the custom like animations, advertised the patriotic feature on Oct. 31, saying it would be available to link with a number of election-related tags through Nov. 6. It was promoted again on Nov. 4, noting that the feature was only available in the US amid the election.
Musk has formed a close bond with Trump ahead of the 2024 presidential election, including an endorsement from the billionaire entrepreneur and an offer to participate in the second Trump administration if the former president was re-elected, according to USA Today.
