Joe Everest, Favour Godwill, Alberto Grosselli, Leon Kille, Camilla Raffaelli,
Clémence Van Damme, James Raggio, Alice Cian, Finley Thomas, Editors; Evan Beachler, Senior Editor
November 5, 2024
A Q in reference to QAnon[1]
Event: On November 5, Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, posted a one-minute video supporting presidential candidate Donald Trump. The video, created by user National Revival,[2] includes archive footage and imagery reminiscent of late 20th-century American pop culture, the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and distinctive symbols of the conspiracy theorist movement QAnon.[3] Musk’s tweet, which at the time of reporting has received more than 53 million views and 670 thousand likes, generated several viral reaction posts, including from popular pro-Trump accounts and profiles known for sharing conspiracy theories and misinformation, with many employing coded language used by QAnon supporters, such as “drain the swamp.”[4]
Significance: A high-profile individual such as Elon Musk sharing QAnon propaganda videos will very likely widen political polarization. There is a roughly even chance that social media users already knowledgeable of QAnon’s activities will perceive their members as “fighting for democracy” and against an allegedly corrupt elite, legitimizing the group’s extremist positions to the general public. The promotion of Musk’s account by the X algorithm will almost certainly result in the post reaching a wide audience, including individuals unaware of QAnon, very likely causing them to believe the misinformation posted by supporters of the group. There is a roughly even chance that this will influence voter behavior, particularly targeting undecided voters. QAnon followers will almost certainly feel empowered, likely encouraging social media promotion of far-right extremism and anti-democratic ideologies. The validation of QAnon by Musk will likely increase disinformation and erode trust in mainstream media when reporting electoral results.
Musk’s repost of the video, including footage from the January 6, 2021, insurrection, will very likely intensify the movement's radicalization, depending on the election outcome. Given QAnon’s prior reaction to the 2020 US election, including the claim that it was “stolen,” the tweet very likely encourages the movement’s election denial if the results are not in their favor. If Harris wins, there’s a roughly even chance that individuals already involved with QAnon will protest under the pretense of fighting a corrupt elite. The allusion to the US Capitol storming will very likely amplify QAnon’s mobilization to violence in response to another “interfered” election, almost certainly encouraging pro-Trump protests to turn into violent riots if the conspiracy movement infiltrates them. Using and promoting QAnon words, expressions, and beliefs will likely inspire other extremist groups to consider violence in case of a Democrat win.
Recommendations
The Counterterrorism Group (CTG) recommends that X fact-checkers provide additional context about the video’s original creator and references to QAnon, explaining the organization to a wider audience who may be unaware of it.
Law enforcement should research and be aware of common QAnon expressions, such as “PATRIQTS” and “Activation Word: Ronald McDonald,” as well as other extremist groups or individuals using the same language, proliferating in propaganda videos, especially calls for violence or heightened rhetoric about a stolen election.
Social media users should remain vigilant against disinformation about election results, avoid amplifying false or incorrect statements, and seek information only from trusted sources and news outlets.
Social media users should report claims of election rigging and disinformation they encounter on platforms such as X through the built-in tools to do so.
Voters should stay informed about potential protests related to election results, especially those linked to QAnon, taking place in their area and maintain a safe distance to avoid involvement in demonstrations that may turn violent.
If there is any additional and or critical information please contact us at The Counterterrorism Group (CTG) by Telephone 202-643-2848 or email info@counterterrorismgroup.com
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[1] Q by Jennifer Loy
[2] National Revival, Twitter, November 2024, https://x.com/REVIVALNATIONAL/status/1853833304727851328
[3] Elon Musk, Twitter, November 2024, https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1853612871877329188
[4] Ibid