On Tuesday, Twitter’s CEO Parag Agrawal announced that the social media platform will be appointing tech billionaire Elon Musk to the company’s board of directors. The announcement comes one day after it was revealed that Musk had bought a 9.2% stake in Twitter, thereby becoming the largest shareholder in the company with the purchase.
“I’m excited to share that we’re appointing @elonmusk to our board!” Agrawal tweeted. “Through conversations with Elon in recent weeks, it became clear to us that he would bring great value to our Board.”
“He’s both a passionate believer and intense critic of the service which is exactly what we need on @Twitter, and in the boardroom, to make us stronger in the long-term. Welcome Elon!” he added.
He’s both a passionate believer and intense critic of the service which is exactly what we need on @Twitter, and in the boardroom, to make us stronger in the long-term. Welcome Elon!
— Parag Agrawal (@paraga) April 5, 2022
Musk responded shortly after, indicating that he will accept the position. “Looking forward to working with Parag & Twitter board to make significant improvements to Twitter in coming months!” he tweeted.
Looking forward to working with Parag & Twitter board to make significant improvements to Twitter in coming months!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2022
On Monday, The Daily Wire reported that “Musk now has four times as many shares as Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, who owns 2.25%.”
The Daily Wire also noted that Musk has hinted in the past at creating a platform that is more open to diversity of thought:
The move comes after Musk teased a shakeup at Twitter, or possible plans to build a new social media platform that promotes free speech.
Last month, Musk asked his followers to vote in a poll about free speech and Twitter’s adherence to it, emphasizing that the “consequences of this poll will be important.”
“Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?” the 50-year-old asked. “The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.”
Top tech analyst Dan Ives also correctly predicted on Monday morning that Musk’s move at Twitter is “just the appetizer” of what’s to come.
“This is just a starter … Musk is not gonna do this just to take a passive stake,” Ives told CNBC’s Squawk Box, the Daily Wire noted. “He’s gonna ultimately try to either really change Twitter in terms of a more active stake or eventually, could lead to a buyout.”
In reaction to the latest news, many conservatives such as Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton have called for major changes at the company.
.@ElonMusk, as a member of @Twitter‘s board of directors, should demand full investigation of @Twitter‘s illicit and fraudulent censorship policies. The evidence shows @Twitterhas lied to shareholders, Congress, users, and public about its censorship targeting conservatives,” Fitton alleged in one tweet.
.@ElonMusk, as a member of @Twitter's board of directors, should demand full investigation of @Twitter's illicit and fraudulent censorship policies. The evidence shows @Twitter has lied to shareholders, Congress, users, and public about its censorship targeting conservatives.
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) April 5, 2022
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.