Elon Musk born in Pretoria, South Africa
Elon Musk is born in Pretoria, the eldest child of South African engineer Errol and Maye, nee Haldeman, a Canadian fashion model. He spends part of his childhood in the suburb of Waterkloof and graduates from Pretoria Boys High School.
He reads for many hours a day during childhood and enjoys comic books and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing. He discusses science and computers with his brother Kimbal, and sister, Tosca, and debates computers with his father, who divorces from his mother. Instead of hiring domestic help, the children do chores, unlike many other wealthy South African families at the time.
I guess I was a bit of an autocratic father – do this, do that…I was a single parent, and they simply had to help out.
He develops the ambition to migrate to the U.S. during childhood, to escape a South African society that he views as oppressive under apartheid.
Musk, Riley divorce
Musk announces that he and Riley are splitting after just over one year of marriage. Riley moved out of their Bel Air home six months ago. Musk:
We took some time apart for several months to see if absence makes the heart grow fonder, and unfortunately it did not, I still love her, but I’m not in love with her. And I can’t really give her what she wants.
Trump meets tech leaders
Trump and Pence meet with tech industry leaders at Trump Tower. Trump:
This is a truly amazing group of people. I won’t tell you the hundreds of calls we’ve had asking to come to this meeting. I’m here to help you folks do well. And you’re doing well right now and I’m very honored by the bounce. They’re all talking about the bounce. So right now everybody in this room has to like me — at least a little bit — but we’re going to try and have that bounce continue.
Musk offers Starlink satellites to Florida
Florida Governor DeSantis says Musk has agreed to provide Starlink to help in response to Hurricane Ian in areas of Southwest Florida still without power and internet after the superstorm. SpaceX plans to send 120 “large Starlink units” to Florida, which will serve as satellite dishes to distribute internet connections to devices within a 13-mile radius. Use by search and rescue crews will be prioritized. Starlink is covering all costs. DeSantis:
We are working with Elon Musk and Starlink satellite. They are positioning those Starlink satellites to provide good coverage in Southwest Florida and other affected areas.
Elon Musk sends Starlink satellites to storm-battered Florida counties https://t.co/iy0YkuxZjN pic.twitter.com/GR4Mq01C33
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) October 1, 2022
Musk fires Gadde
Musk fires Gadde, Twitter’s head of Legal & Policy. Gadde banned Donald Trump from Twitter in January 21.
BREAKING: Elon Musk has fired Vijaya Gadde, head of legal policy, trust & safety, who made the decision to permanently suspend Donald Trump.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 28, 2022
Twitter bans Griffin for impersonating Musk
After Musk announced an immediate ban on accounts pretending to be someone else without flagging them as parodies…
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended.
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
…the company banned Griffin, who had tweeted about the midterm elections under Musk’s name. Musk said Griffin had been removed for “impersonating a comedian” but could have her account back for $8.
But if she really wants her account back, she can have it
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
Griffin responded on Mastodon, a rival network:
I guess not ALL the content moderators were let go? Lol
Musk reinstates Peterson, Griffin & The Babylon Bee
As part of of a thread talking about free speech at Twitter, Musk says:
Kathie Griffin (sic), Jorden Peterson & Babylon Bee have been reinstated. Trump decision has not yet been made.
Kathie Griffin, Jorden Peterson & Babylon Bee have been reinstated.
Trump decision has not yet been made.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2022
Griffin responds on Instagram, by misspelling Musk’s name:
Dear Eilon, You f**ked up, fool. I’m going downstairs to my basement of heads. You’re up. Xxoo, The Beheader
Peterson says:
I'm back. Thanks @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/MnWWNDACGD
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) November 18, 2022
Musk invokes first child’s death for not restoring Jones’ Twitter account
Musk refuses to restore Jones’ Twitter account saying:
No
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2022
He later elaborates:
My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat. I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.
My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat.
I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2022
Musk: Apple is threatening Twitter’s presence on the App Store
After Musk publishes a poll, asking if Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers…
Apple should publish all censorship actions it has taken that affect its customers
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
…a Twitter user asks if Apple is threatening Twitter’s presence in the App Store or otherwise making moderation demands? Musk:
Yes
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
Musk then directly tweets that Apple has threatened to withhold Twitter from its App store:
Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why
Apple has also threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, but won’t tell us why
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
When a Twitter user points out that 97.5% of Apple’s political donations were to the Democratic Party, Musk replies:
Wow, they don’t sound biased at all!
Musk bans West from Twitter: ‘I tried my best’
After West posts an image of a swastika inside a Star of David…
…and an image of Musk half- naked, Musk says that the latter is fine, but the swastika/star ‘is not’ and that West will be suspended for ‘incitement to violence’
I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended.
I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 2, 2022
West then posted a screenshot of his Twitter ban message on TruthSocial. Musk appeared to comment on the ban by later posting:
FAFO [F*ck around, find out]
Musk, Macron meet
Macron and Musk meet in New Orleans, where they discuss environmental issues and freedom of speech. Macron:
I’ll say it here, on Twitter, because it’s all about the blue bird. This afternoon I met with @elonmusk and we had a clear and honest discussion: Transparent user policies, significant reinforcement of content moderation and protection of freedom of speech: efforts have to be made by Twitter to comply with European regulations. Elon Musk confirmed the Twitter’s participation to the Christchurch Call. There is no place for terrorist and violent extremist content anywhere. We will work with Twitter to improve online child protection. Elon Musk confirmed it to me today. Let’s better protect our children online !
I'll say it here, on Twitter, because it’s all about the blue bird. This afternoon I met with @elonmusk and we had a clear and honest discussion:
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 2, 2022
Musk fires Baker for vetting Twitter Files
Musk fires Baker, Twitter’s deputy general counsel, over concerns he tried to suppress information about the social media platform’s handling of the Hunter Biden laptop controversy. Baker was involved in discussions about whether the laptop falls under Twitter’s “hacked materials” policy. In one of the Twitter files’ emails Baker wrote:
I support the conclusion that we need more facts to assess whether the materials were hacked. At this stage, however, it’s reasonable for us to assume that they may have been and that caution is warranted.
Matt Taibbi, the journalist releasing Twitter’s files, said that he and another journalist, Bari Weiss, were dealing “with obstacles to new searches” when Weiss discovered that Baker had vetted the first batch of “Twitter Files” – without knowledge of new management.
Over the weekend, while we both dealt with obstacles to new searches, it was @BariWeiss who discovered that the person in charge of releasing the files was someone named Jim. When she called to ask “Jim’s” last name, the answer came back: “Jim Baker.” “My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss
“My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Musk said Baker, had offered an “unconvincing” explanation for his actions when confronted.
In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today…His explanation was …unconvincing.
In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 6, 2022
Elton John quits Twitter, Musk responds
John says he is leaving Twitter:
All my life I’ve tried to use music to bring people together. Yet it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used to divide our world. I’ve decided to no longer use Twitter, given their recent change in policy which will allow misinformation to flourish unchecked.
Musk responds:
I love your music. Hope you come back. Is there any misinformation in particular that you’re concerned about?
I love your music. Hope you come back. Is there any misinformation in particular that you’re concerned about?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2022
Twitter suspends @ElonJet account, Musk to take legal action
Despite earlier vowing to allow the account that tracks his private jet to continue on Twitter, Musk bans the @elonjet account and says he will take legal action against Jack Sweeney, the accounts owner. Musk had previously offered Sweeney $5000 to delete the account.
Any account doxxing real-time location info of anyone will be suspended, as it is a physical safety violation. This includes posting links to sites with real-time location info. Posting locations someone traveled to on a slightly delayed basis isn’t a safety problem, so is ok. Last night, car carrying lil X in LA was followed by crazy stalker (thinking it was me), who later blocked car from moving & climbed onto hood. Legal action is being taken against Sweeney & organizations who supported harm to my family.
For hours after the suspension of the @elonjet account, other Sweeney-run accounts tracking private jets used by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and various Russian oligarchs were still live on Twitter. But by later on Wednesday, Twitter suspended all of them, including Sweeney’s personal account of Jack Sweeney. Twitter’s Help Center tweeted an updated media policy that begins: “You may not publish or post other people’s private information without their express authorization and permission.”
Last night, car carrying lil X in LA was followed by crazy stalker (thinking it was me), who later blocked car from moving & climbed onto hood.
Legal action is being taken against Sweeney & organizations who supported harm to my family.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 15, 2022
Musk meets Biden EV officials
Musk meets with Podesta, Biden’s senior advisor for clean energy innovation, and Landrieu, who oversees infrastructure spending, in the building that houses Tesla’s Washington lobbying operation and the Center for American Progress, Podesta’s think tank.
John Podesta and Mitch Landrieu met with Elon Musk to discuss shared goals around electrification and how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act can advance electric vehicle production and charging as well as the broader cause of electrification
True
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2023
Trans advocates criticise Twitter policy change
Trans advocates criticise Elon Musk for quietly removing a Twitter policy designed to protect transgender people from harassment. The policy previously forbade users of the social media network from deliberately “misgendering” (referring to someone using pronouns that do not reflect their gender identity) or “deadnaming” (calling a transgender person by the name they were given at birth, rather than the name and gender they now identify with) trans users. An archived version of Twitter’s policy indicates that the rule was scrubbed on April 8 without announcement. GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis:
Twitter’s decision to covertly roll back its longtime policy is the latest example of just how unsafe the company is for users and advertisers alike.
Trans rights group Human Rights Campaign:
This policy change makes Twitter more unsafe for trans and non-binary users and paves the way for outright discrimination. Twitter has an obligation to protect people on the platform, not expose them to hate and vitriol.
This policy change makes Twitter more unsafe for trans and non-binary users and paves the way for outright discrimination.
Twitter has an obligation to protect people on the platform, not expose them to hate and vitriol. https://t.co/0nFvxLjBIQ
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 18, 2023
Musk pays for Shatner, LeBron and King blue ticks
After legacy blue verification checkmarks are removed from Twitter, Musk says he is personally paying the $8 a month fee for William Shatner, LeBron James & Stephen King. King had previously said that he would not pay for the verification. After the author tweeted he has been subscribed, despite not giving his phone number, Musk replies:
You’re welcome namaste
You’re welcome namaste 🙏
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2023
Just Shatner, LeBron and King
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 21, 2023
Bannon: Musk is a ‘stone cold liar’ with ‘paymasters in Beijing’
Bannon accuses Musk of lying about his support for journalistic freedom after Musk said he believes in elevating “citizen journalism”, during a keynote discussion at the MMA Possible Conference in Miami.
I think it’s very important to elevate citizen journalism. It’s very important to hear the voice of the people. The actual voice of the people, not the filtered voice of people, and let the people choose the narrative, and let the people determine the truth and not five editors-in-chief of major publications.
Bannon:
Elon Musk is a stone cold liar, His paymasters in Beijing have given him strict orders to suppress the leading ‘SuperHawk’ Anti-CCP Voices…Elon Musk is a running dog for The [Chinese Communist Party] totally and completely compromised by their financial ownership of Tesla Shanghai…
It is not clear which individuals Bannon believes Musk suppressed, nor is the specific incident he referred to.
Musk to King: ‘I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?’
After King says that Musk should give the blue check fee he donated to King to a Ukraine charity:
I think Mr. Musk should give my blue check to charity. I recommend the Prytula Foundation, which provides lifesaving services in Ukraine. It’s only $8, so perhaps Mr. Musk could add a bit more.
Musk responds, saying he has donated $100 million to Ukraine, and asks King how much he has donated.
I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?
Musk links his tweet to an October 22, 2022, tweet from former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, thanking him for donating Starlink to Ukraine’s war effort.
Thanks @elonmusk. Before all the talks about funding, you confirmed to me that in any case you will ensure the work of Starlinks in Ukraine. This was critically important for Ukraine. We are grateful to you!
I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?
(We turned down the DoD money btw) https://t.co/wpLa6dTnP6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 23, 2023
Musk talks ‘the future’ with Schumer
Musk meets with Schumer to discuss artificial intelligence and more.
We talked about the future. We talked about AI and the economy.
Schumer says the meeting went very well.
We talked about Buffalo (New York) – Tesla has a large plant in Buffalo. And we talked about AI.
Met with @SenSchumer and many members of Congress about artificial intelligence regulation today.
That which affects safety of the public has, over time, become regulated to ensure that companies do not cut corners.
AI has great power to do good and evil. Better the former.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 27, 2023