In the wake of news that Twitter’s board of directors is in talks with Elon Musk about his attempt to buy the social media giant, the Tesla CEO sent a cryptic tweet on Monday, expressing his hope that even his “worst detractors” will stay on the platform if he takes control.
“I hope that even my harshest detractors remain on Twitter because that is what free speech entails,” Musk tweeted, advocating for free expression. He now has over 83 million followers on Twitter.
According to Bloomberg, the self-described “free speech absolutist” met with Twitter’s board of directors on Sunday and early Monday to discuss the parameters of his bid to buy the company for $54.20 per share.
Twitter’s stock rose 5.5 per cent to $51.60 on Monday. They were, however, still less than Musk’s offer price.
Twitter and its CEO, Parag Agrawal, did not respond to requests for comment on what is expected to be the world’s largest leveraged buyout.
According to the sources, representatives from Twitter and Musk worked through the night on Sunday to finalise the arrangement, which might still go apart.
Republican lawmaker Jim Jordan in the United States applauded the Twitter-Elon Musk partnership. In an interview with Fox News, Jordan said, “I think this agreement seems like it’s good for the shareholders; second, it’s good for free expression, it’s good for the First Amendment.”
Following the Capitol riots in January of last year, Republicans chastised Twitter for banning former US President Donald Trump’s handle.
Last week, 18 House Republicans issued a letter to the members of the Twitter board of directors, requesting that all records and materials connected to Elon Musk’s offer to buy the firm be preserved, laying the framework for a possible investigation.
“As Congress continues to examine Big Tech and how to best protect Americans’ free speech rights, this letter serves as a formal request that you preserve all records and materials relating to Musk’s offer to purchase Twitter, including Twitter’s consideration and response to this offer, and Twitter’s evaluation of its shareholder interests with respect to Musk’s offer,” said the letter which was signed by Jim Jordan and others.
