FACT CHECK: Instagram Image Does Not Show Authentic USAID Graphic Calling To ‘Help Eliminate Elon’

A screenshot of an X post shared on Instagram purports to show a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) advertisement calling to “help eliminate [Tesla CEO Elon Musk].”

Verdict: False

The ad is not authentic and can be traced back to artist Winston Tseng’s verified Instagram account. Tseng has previously created political ads that have been fact-checked. Tseng confirmed the image is parody to Check Your Fact via Instagram direct messages.

Fact Check:

Fourteen states have sued Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claiming its efforts to cut government spending are “unconstitutional,” according to The Hill. Among the states included in the lawsuit are New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Rhode Island, the outlet reported.

The screenshot shared via Instagram purports to show a USAID ad calling to “help eliminate Musk.” “Holy sh*t this is a real USAID graphic spotted in Washington DC,” the text of the screenshotted X post reads. The screenshot features the purported “Help Eliminate Elon” ad, which appears to bear Musk’s likeness. A large red “X” is superimposed over Musk’s face and what appears to be a USAID logo is visible on the ad.

The original post shared on X has received over 300,000 views as of writing.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact traced the purported ad to Tseng’s verified Instagram account, @winstontseng. Tseng shared a carousel post showing multiple shots of the image from a clearer vantage point. A comment made in response to the post indicates the ad is not real.

“I love how people have no idea and think these are real ads. it makes It all so much realer than if they did actually pay for it,” the comment reads.

Check Your Fact reviewed Tseng’s profile and found a Dec. 19 post highlighting multiple fact-check articles Reuters had written on previous political ads he’d created. Included in the post was an ad claiming the Philadelphia Eagles had endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Check Your Fact also debunked that claim.

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find any reference to the purported “Help Eliminate Elon” poster on Musk’s verified X account, @elonmusk. President Donald Trump has not commented on the claim, either. (RELATED: Musk Did Not Say Japanese Should Stay In Japan And Italians Should Stay In Italy)

In addition, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Feb. 12, Lead Stories debunked the claim, tracing the poster back to Tseng’s Instagram account.

Furthermore, Tseng confirmed the image is parody to Check Your Fact via Instagram direct messages.

“The title is ‘From the American people,’ the official motto of USAID. The work is a parody of the ‘eliminate’ language used by Elon Musk to destroy USAID. In general it’s a satire of our current political environment,” Tseng said.