The claim: Elon Musk has called for a ban on pride flags in schools. A Facebook post from September 6 (direct link, archive link) compares images of entrepreneur Elon Musk to a flag commonly associated with the LGBTQ+ community.
The post features the text: “Elon Musk Says: ‘Pride Flags Should be Banned from Classrooms, Permanently!'” which is also used as the caption for the photograph.
Between this post and others like it circulating on Facebook, the claim was shared more than 100 times within four days. It also saw widespread sharing on Instagram.
For more details, visit our Fact-Check Team’s resources: How We Select and Research Claims | Email Newsletter | Facebook Page.
Our rating: False
There is no evidence to support the claim that Elon Musk advocated for a ban on pride flags in schools. The allegation originated from a satirical account.
Musk, who has an estranged transgender daughter, has publicly stated that he was “tricked” into consenting to her gender-affirming treatment, leading him to denounce what he refers to as the “woke mind virus.” Additionally, he announced plans to move the headquarters of both SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) to Texas, in response to criticism of California legislation prohibiting certain actions.
The claim about the forcible expulsion of LGBTQ+ pupils is false. Fact-checking reveals that the article claiming Elon Musk’s views on X users calling Trump supporters “strange” is also fake.
Regarding the assertion in the Facebook post that Musk advocated for schools to prohibit pride flags, this is untrue. There are no credible news sources supporting the claim that Musk has endorsed such a restriction.
The allegation was first made in a September 4 Facebook post from the SpaceX Fanclub account, which explicitly states in its introduction that “nothing on this page is real,” indicating the satirical nature of the content.
Tim Lawson, the publisher, confirmed to USA TODAY that the report is fabricated. While both articles use a flipped version of the same Associated Press photo of Musk, the one published by the SpaceX Fanclub includes a watermark indicating that it is a parody. This watermark, however, does not appear in the September 6 post, which contributed to the confusion and spread of the false claim.
Furthermore, the comments on the September 4 post include a link to a longer article published by Esspots.com, which is also labeled as satire. The September 6 post, however, provides a link to an almost identical article but without any indication of its satirical nature.
Both stories quote a supposed post from Musk on X (formerly Twitter) that reads, “Pride flags should be banned from classrooms permanently! It’s time to concentrate on education rather than agendas.” However, there is no trace of this post on Musk’s account, further proving the claim to be false.
The September 6 Facebook post is an example of “stolen satire,” where material originally presented as satire is captured and shared in a way that makes it appear to be genuine news. This tactic misleads readers, as happened in this case, where the second-generation post deceived viewers into believing the claim was true.
USA TODAY had previously exposed similar bogus claims, including allegations that Musk banned actor Robert De Niro from X, was seen wearing pro-apartheid headgear, and called for a boycott of Tyson Foods.
USA TODAY reached out to a spokeswoman for X but did not receive an immediate response. When USA TODAY contacted the individuals who posted the claim on social media, none of them provided evidence to support their assertions. Additionally, Snopes discredited one version of the allegation.
Our fact-checking sources include Tim Lawson, who exchanged a Facebook message with USA TODAY on September 9, and the September 4 Facebook post from @SpaceX Fanclub.
On September 10, @SpaceX Fanclub updated their Facebook page, and on September 5, Esspots.com published a report claiming that Elon Musk said, “Pride Flags Should Be Banned from Classrooms, Permanently!”
USA TODAY appreciates your support for journalism. Subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app, or e-newspaper for more.
USA TODAY is a confirmed signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, demonstrating a commitment to impartiality, fairness, and transparency. A donation from Meta helps fund some of our fact-checking efforts.
