How X Is Benefiting as Musk Advises Trump

On a recent Thursday afternoon, reporters squeezed into the crowded White House press briefing room were greeted with a surprising sight. Among the traditional representatives of legacy media sat a new figure: John Stoll, who had just been named Head of News at X, the social media company owned by Elon Musk.

Introducing him, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gestured to the unfamiliar face. “You all know X,” she said, noting its global reach, diverse users, and growing number of independent journalists. “It’s home to hundreds of millions — and a vital part of today’s media landscape.” She then offered Stoll the privilege of posing the first question.

This symbolic gesture, placing X alongside prestigious news outlets at a high-profile government event, marked more than just a seat assignment. It illustrated a broader shift: the social platform’s growing presence and influence within the current administration, where Elon Musk has emerged as a key figure by President Trump’s side.

Since Trump’s return to office, X has become an increasingly prominent channel for disseminating federal updates. Musk, who commands an audience of over 219 million on the platform, frequently posts updates from his newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative focused on slashing federal spending. In early 2025, several government entities — from the IRS to the Pentagon — launched DOGE-branded accounts on X, inviting users to share tips about misuse of taxpayer funds.

This alignment with the administration has elevated X’s political significance, even as the company wrestles with internal financial instability. Internal emails obtained by The New York Times reveal that X has been scrambling to meet advertising targets and revenue projections. Meanwhile, Musk announced on March 28 that X would be merged into his artificial intelligence firm, xAI — a move designed to stabilize the struggling platform by tying it to a faster-growing venture.

Despite its challenges, X’s newfound status under Trump’s leadership has attracted renewed attention from Wall Street and Madison Avenue. Financial institutions have begun unloading billions in X’s previously stagnant debt, encouraged by investor optimism around Musk’s close collaboration with the White House. Major advertisers — including tech giants like Amazon and Apple — have cautiously resumed partnerships with the platform.

Whether this resurgence will be sustained remains uncertain. It’s unclear how much of X’s recent success is directly linked to Musk’s influence in the Trump administration. Nonetheless, the momentum is notable given the platform’s troubles in recent years.

“Everything unfolds on X in real time,” wrote Linda Yaccarino, X’s CEO, in a post last month. “There are no filters — just truth, raw ideas, and a chorus of diverse voices.”

Neither Musk nor the White House provided comments in response to inquiries.

The social media company’s revitalization coincides with Musk’s expanded role in Washington. From an office near the White House, he oversees DOGE while also maintaining his leadership roles at Tesla and SpaceX. His influence in shaping federal policy has steadily grown.

X’s journey since Musk acquired it in late 2022 for $44 billion has been turbulent. He laid off over 80% of the workforce and dismantled key content moderation systems, prompting an exodus of advertisers who feared being associated with hate speech and offensive material. By the end of 2024, Fidelity — a key investor — had revised X’s valuation downward to $12 billion.

However, in February 2025, the tide began to turn. X’s bankers successfully sold billions of dollars in company debt — a significant reversal from the previous year when they were negotiating with investors at steep discounts. “There’s a new risk calculus,” said Jo-Ellen Pozner, a management professor at Santa Clara University. “Being seen as disconnected from the administration — and by extension, X — may make companies nervous.”

Still, the company remains financially shaky. In January, Musk acknowledged in an internal email that revenue was underwhelming and that the platform was operating just above the break-even point. Another internal memo revealed that by early March, X had served only $91 million in advertising in Q1 — far short of its $153 million target.

“The sprint to the finish line begins now,” one message read, urging teams to boost performance.

On March 28, Musk unveiled the next chapter for X: a merger with xAI. The deal valued X at $33 billion, while xAI — Musk’s ambitious AI startup — had been pegged at $80 billion. Though the transaction offers some lifeline to X, analysts expressed uncertainty. “There’s limited transparency into the real value of either firm,” noted Eric Talley, a Columbia Law School professor focused on corporate governance. “Their futures now appear tightly bound.”

Meanwhile, Musk has embraced a more direct role as a media figurehead. Frustrated with how traditional outlets portray him, he has increasingly turned X into a megaphone for his views. In January, he reposted a video of himself promoting X as the future of journalism. “You are the media now,” he declared. “The old model is controlled by a handful of editors — I want people to share directly on X.”

The DOGE initiative — his most visible federal effort — now has an official X presence and displays a gray verification badge, denoting its status as a government-affiliated account. Its posts tout cost-saving achievements and rebut critiques. Musk’s vision is becoming increasingly evident: a platform that not only hosts political discourse but helps shape public policy.

“He’s turning X into an unofficial government media outlet — without the oversight,” said David Kaye, a law professor at UC Irvine who specializes in free speech and digital platforms.

In February, various agencies including the Social Security Administration and the SEC launched new DOGE-themed accounts on X. While they still operate official agency accounts, these new profiles function as public-facing tip lines, asking users to report examples of wasteful spending.

The move has been welcomed by conservative politicians, many of whom see X as a direct conduit to Musk and, by extension, federal policy. Viral posts about government inefficiency have prompted personal responses from Musk, and numerous users have seen their concerns labeled “fixed” by the DOGE team.

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, long known for her crusade against government waste, called herself the “top watchDOGE” in a post last November. Musk responded with American flag emojis and praised her efforts in a December exchange, calling her years of work “super helpful.”

In January, X formalized its growing media role by creating a new position: Head of News. The job, filled by veteran journalist John Stoll (formerly of The Wall Street Journal), is designed to manage X’s relationships with media organizations that publish content or advertise on the platform.

Shortly after Trump’s return to the Oval Office, the administration announced changes to the White House press protocol. A new seat near the lectern would be reserved for representatives of “new media” — a term encompassing podcasters, content creators, and platforms like X.

During his first — and so far, only — appearance in the briefing room, Stoll called his participation a reflection of the administration’s “willingness to innovate and remain open to new ideas.” He then proceeded to ask about the administration’s readiness to confront Vladimir Putin on the global stage.

It’s a moment that captured the current crossroads of media and politics — where traditional institutions are being redefined, and platforms like X are no longer just tools for communication, but active participants in shaping national policy.