‘You’re Not the Media’: Axios Boss Totally Loses Cool Over Elon Musk Declaration That X Has Better Reporting Than Mainstream Media
In a fiery confrontation that has intensified the ongoing battle between traditional journalism and social media influence, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei launched a blistering attack on X boss Elon Musk during the National Press Club’s Fourth Estate Gala on Thursday evening.
The clash erupted in response to Musk’s recent post-election declaration that “you are the media now,” a statement that struck a nerve with established media figures.
VandeHei, visibly passionate, dismissed Musk’s assertion as “bullsh*t” before a crowd of media professionals who responded with enthusiastic applause.
“Everything we do is under fire,” VandeHei declared, directly challenging Musk’s daily presence on X.
The Axios chief executive didn’t mince words in his rebuke of the tech billionaire’s stance on citizen journalism, asserting that possessing “a blue checkmark, a Twitter handle, and 300 words of cleverness doesn’t make you a reporter.”
The confrontation stems from Musk’s post-2024 presidential election statement on X, where he criticized traditional media outlets while promoting his platform as a beacon of truth.
“The reality of this election was plain to see on X, while most legacy media lied relentlessly to the public,” Musk had written, encouraging users to share their thoughts and correct misinformation on his platform.
VandeHei emphasized that real journalism requires more than social media activity, stressing the importance of “doing the hard work” rather than simply “popping off on Twitter” or sharing opinions.
The Post Millennial (TPM) reported that the debate found support among mainstream media figures, including MSNBC’s Morning Joe team.
Host Joe Scarborough, who recently made headlines for his Mar-a-Lago visit with President-elect Trump alongside co-host Mika Brzezinski, defended traditional media by highlighting various news outlets’ contributions, insisting their work “matters.”
This public clash highlights the growing tension between conventional news organizations and the democratization of information through social media platforms, raising questions about the future of journalism in an increasingly digital age.
X users were quick to rip VandeHei over his now-viral meltdown.
Matt Gaetz, for example, asked, “Didn’t Axios just have to lay off a bunch of people due to declining revenue?”
The Joe Rogan Podcast account noted, “Free speech/market = W for X,” to which another user quipped, “[VandeHei ] could focus on reporting the truth, rather than to be propaganda machinery.”
Elon Musk, for his part, recently made headlines by humorously suggesting, via a meme shared on his platform, that he might buy MSNBC amidst network restructuring reports.
The meme, featuring a priest resisting temptation, was overlaid with text referencing the MSNBC logo.
TTOA reported that even Donald Trump Jr. chimed in following the viral meme, encouraging Musk to proceed with the acquisition, which the billionaire tech mogul playfully entertained.
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