In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk’s X Corp., the company that took over Twitter and rebranded it as X, has made its presence felt in the bankruptcy case of Alex Jones and his Infowars platform. On Thursday, X Corp. filed a notice of appearance in the bankruptcy proceedings, drawing attention to its potential involvement in the controversial sale of Infowars’ assets. This move has sparked a whirlwind of speculation about Musk’s intentions and what role X Corp. might play in the future of Jones’ media empire.
The drama surrounding Infowars intensified after The Onion, a satirical news outlet, successfully acquired the platform’s assets in an auction. Reports indicate that The Onion plans to shut down Infowars and rebrand it, giving the once-popular platform a more humorous, irreverent twist. According to NBC News, the site will be transformed by well-known internet humor writers and creators. However, Jones is claiming that the auction was rigged, and he accused Connecticut Democrats and The Onion of conspiring to seize Infowars through underhanded tactics.
In a video posted on X, Jones voiced his frustration over the process, stating that “they changed all the bidding rules and made it secret two days ago.” His comments reflect his belief that the auction was manipulated, and he expressed his suspicions that the bidding process was far from fair.
In response to Jones’ allegations, a federal bankruptcy judge in Texas ordered an evidentiary hearing to scrutinize the sale’s transparency. The hearing aims to address concerns raised about potential irregularities in the auction, which was reportedly influenced by families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. These families are owed $1 billion in damages after Jones was found liable for defamation due to his claims that the shooting was a hoax. The auction included critical assets like Infowars’ website, its Texas-based studio, social media accounts, trademarks, and a vast video archive.
Despite the significant assets up for grabs, the winning bid amount has remained undisclosed, and all auction participants were required to sign nondisclosure agreements, fueling further speculation. One notable detail is that the auction’s winner may not have been the highest bidder. According to NPR, the U.S. trustee overseeing the auction has significant discretion in determining the “highest or otherwise best bid,” which could have led to a decision beyond mere monetary value.
Reports also surfaced that Jones’ allies had made a substantial seven-figure offer in an attempt to keep Infowars afloat, but their bid was unsuccessful. “I was told Elon is going to be very involved in this,” Jones remarked during a live broadcast on X, further igniting speculation about Musk’s involvement.
On the same day, X Corp. filed a formal notice, signaling its interest in the case. While the filing does not explicitly state the company’s motivations, it reserves X Corp.’s rights as an “interested party” and requests all relevant documents related to the bankruptcy proceedings. As of now, neither Musk nor X Corp.’s legal team have commented on their exact intentions in the matter, leaving many questions unanswered.
In a statement made during the hearing, Jones hinted at Musk’s involvement, adding, “The cavalry is here. Trump is pissed.” Jones then elaborated, mentioning his long-standing support for former President Donald Trump. His cryptic remarks raised eyebrows and fueled further curiosity about the potential behind-the-scenes maneuvering involving some of the most powerful figures in American media and politics.
Jones, a notorious figure for his promotion of conspiracy theories, has been embroiled in multiple legal battles over his false claims regarding the Sandy Hook tragedy. The bankruptcy case, combined with the sale of Infowars, represents a pivotal moment in his troubled career. Jones had long been a fixture of the right-wing media landscape, but his credibility has been severely damaged by lawsuits filed by the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting.
The intervention of X Corp. into the case has added an additional layer of intrigue, with Musk’s potential influence over the situation raising many questions. Is Musk planning to take control of Infowars and revamp it in his own image? Or is he simply positioning X Corp. as a watchdog in the auction’s process, ensuring that everything is above board? For now, it’s unclear.
What is certain, however, is that this development could have far-reaching implications not only for the future of Infowars but also for the larger landscape of conservative media in the U.S. The auction of Infowars’ assets marks the end of an era for Jones, but with X Corp. now in the picture, the future of his platform may take a radically different direction—one that could have significant political and cultural consequences.
