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Viral image
stated on August 7, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Says Elon Musk posted on X, “Any harassment of Trump supporters using the term ‘weird’ will be punished.”

False

No, Elon Musk didn’t say X users will be punished for calling Trump supporters ‘weird’

If your time is short

  • This X post appears to be fabricated. 

See the sources for this fact-check

Democrats have started wielding the word “weird” against former President Donald Trump and his 2024 running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio. But X owner Elon Musk hasn’t threatened to ban users who use it against Republicans on his social media platform. 

“‘Weird’ is being used as a slur against Trump supporters, and it will not be tolerated on this platform,” reads what looks like a July 30 X post from Musk. “Trump supporters should not have to face ridicule for their beliefs. Any harassment of Trump supporters using the term ‘weird’ will be punished.”

An Aug. 7 Instagram post sharing an image of the purported X post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

This image appears to be fabricated. 

Such a post doesn’t show up on Musk’s X feed, nor did we find any credible news coverage that he made this statement on the platform — or elsewhere — and then deleted it. 

Musk’s X account also features an X logo next to his handle. The image in the Instagram post includes no such logo. 

We rate claims Musk said this False.

 
Our Sources

Instagram post, Aug. 7, 2024

Elon Musk X account, visited Aug. 15, 2024

Politico, How Trump and Vance went from a ‘threat to democracy’ to ‘weird,’ July 26, 2024

 

No, Elon Musk didn’t say X users will be punished for calling Trump supporters ‘weird’

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino