A post shared on Facebook claims Tesla CEO and owner of X, Elon Musk, has agreed to buy CNN for $3 billion.
Verdict: False
The claim is false and originally stems from an Oct. 18 article published on the satire site “SpaceX Mania.” In addition, a spokesperson for CNN denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.
Fact Check:
Musk and former 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the new “Department of Government Efficiency” during President-Elect Donald Trump’s second term, according to CNN. Trump made the announcement via a recent statement, the outlet reported.
The Facebook post claims Musk has agreed to buy CNN for $3 billion.
“BREAKING NEWS : ‘Elon Musk Agrees to $3 Billion CNN Acquisition: ‘Fixing the Media, One Network at a Time,’” the post reads. A comment shared on the post includes a link to an article that repeats the claim.
The claim is false and originally stems from an Oct. 18 article published on the satire site “SpaceX Mania.” According to its “About Us” page, SpaceX Mania “take[s] pride in being the cool cats who offer you a front-row seat to our Satire/Fantasy News extravaganza.” The website also describes itself as “your go-to source for the latest Parody news and hilarious satirical commentary.”
“We want to emphasize that NOTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS REAL!” the website reiterates.
Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find the claim referenced on CNN’s website or its verified social media accounts. Musk also does not appear to have publicly commented on the claim.
In addition, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. USA Today, Logically Facts, and Misbar have all debunked the claim. (RELATED: Elon Musk Didn’t Post ‘Last Dollar’ For Zelenskyy)
Furthermore, Bridget Leininger, a spokesperson for CNN, denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.
“This is false,” Leininger said of the claim.
Check Your Fact has also contacted Musk for comment.
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