WASHINGTON—Today, the Twitter Board of Directors accepted Elon Musk’s buyout offer. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts released the following statement in response: 

"Elon Musk just did the previously unthinkable by taking over Twitter. Conservatives and those who value the First Amendment are watching with joy as the left experiences a collective meltdown at the prospect of losing power.  

 

“Musk’s successful fight to take down Twitter’s regime exposed the platform’s leaders as anti-free speech ideologues more interested in silencing opponents and preserving their power than hosting online discourse and debate.

 

“Twitter and other social media platforms are the modern-day town square. Elon Musk understands the importance of preserving First Amendment values in a healthy republic and we hope all Americans, including the former President, are given the freedom to exercise those same rights on these platforms.” 

Kara Frederick, director of Heritage’s Tech Policy Center, added: 

“Musk needs to make numerous changes to ensure that free speech—not arbitrary, inconsistent, and censorious decision makers—guides Twitter’s future. He should also empower users, establish unprecedented transparency, open-source Twitter’s algorithms, and reinforce data privacy. 

 

“And on day one of his leadership, Musk should show his commitment to these reforms by restoring President Trump’s account. 

 

“Americans shouldn’t have to rely on billionaires to protect our sacred right to free speech and expression. Hopefully, however, Musk’s takeover serves as the catalyst for reforms that hold all Big Tech platforms accountable for their abusive practices and constrain Big Tech’s ability to harm society.”