Tech mogul Elon Musk issued a warning to a powerful Brazilian justice amid an escalating free speech clash between the X platform and the left-wing Brazilian government.
The conflict intensified after a recent installment of the Twitter Files exposed Brazilian supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes’ anti-free speech campaign targeting X (formerly Twitter). Fortune reported that De Moraes and Musk are still clashing, with Musk even labeling the justice as “Darth Vader” over his weaponization of the judiciary to target Brazilian former -President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters.
Musk promised to expose what he says are De Moraes’s illegal actions. “Coming shortly, X will publish everything demanded by @Alexandre [de Moraes] and how those requests violate Brazilian law. This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached. Shame @Alexandre, shame,” Musk posted on X April 7. He added a comparison between De Moraes and a famous, fictional super villain: “Brazil’s Darth Vader!”
Musk’s comments come as De Moraes and his fellow justices reportedly attempted to pressure X by having access to the social media platform cut off in Brazil and by imposing fines, actions that threaten X’s business operations in the South American country. Despite these threats, Musk remains defiant, arguing, “These are the most draconian demands of any country on Earth!” Twitter Files journalist Michael Shellenberger reported that a Brazilian court also forced the termination of certain X accounts, and Musk responded by demanding an explanation from De Moraes.
In a separate post on Monday, Musk responded to Brazilian congressman Marcel van Hattem’s expression of gratitude for X’s free speech fight by declaring, “The law applies to all, including @Alexandre. He should be on trial for his crimes.”
Indeed, Musk has posted repeatedly about de Moraes, even inviting him to a debate on the issue. In one comment, replying to critiques of de Moraes from journalist Glenn Greenwald, Musk challenged, “X supports the people of Brazil, without regard to political affiliation. Does Judge @Alexandre?”
MRC Free Speech America previously covered the Twitter Files exposing De Moraes’ biased and politically charged campaign to force censorship measures on X.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency and an equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
