Donald Trump Jr.'s X Account Was Hacked?
SnopesSep 24, 2023
Donald Trump Jr.’s X Account Hacked
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Image copyright: Gage Skidmore/Flickr [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Facts
Donald Trump Jr.’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, was hacked on Wednesday morning. Numerous posts with false information were published to his 10.4M followers.
One of the untrue posts announced the death of his father, former US Pres. Donald Trump, and claimed that Trump Jr. would be running for president in 2024.
The Spin
Narrative A
The mess of security on X and high-profile hacks impact us all – even those whose accounts aren't hacked. The platform, and the free flow of accurate information, are essential to democracy. Misinformation can spread like wildfire on social media and negligence around security on X endangers both users' security and national security, especially ahead of the upcoming election.
Narrative B
X is working to combat manipulation and hacking with new security measures and rules. There's a fine balance between fighting harmful content and censoring political debate, though. The work is ongoing and X is doing what it can to ensure accurate and safe political discourse.
