Elon Musk’s X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has been trying to win back advertisers who left after his acquisition. However, reports suggest that CEO Linda Yaccarino and her team are using the implied threat of government interference to persuade companies like Interpublic Group, a leading ad agency, to spend more money on X.
Interpublic’s response to the allegations denied that they received such demands, stating that their advertising decisions are made based on objective recommendations for clients. The company claims to work with multiple media partners and focuses on delivering the greatest value for marketers. However, several unnamed sources within Interpublic cited a proposed deal between the company and rival Omnicom, which may require regulatory approval in the US.
This development is extraordinary, especially considering Musk’s close ties with former President Donald Trump. As the owner of X, Musk has donated over $250 million to Trump’s presidential campaign and conducts joint interviews with him. The implication that a big media platform could use its relationship with the president to coerce advertisers is concerning and may set a worrying precedent.
The lack of public reaction from prominent figures in Trumpworld, including Jim Jordan and Brendan Carr, is particularly striking. They have been vocal about their concerns over bias in Big Tech companies, but remain silent on this issue. As the situation unfolds, it will be essential to monitor how these developments impact the role of government in regulating social media platforms.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-linda-yaccarino-x-twitter-threaten-advertisers-government-ipg-2025-02