Elon Musk Tells Followers To Vote Republican Day Before Midterms

Elon Musk encouraged a vote for Republicans in a tweet Monday to his 114.8 million followers.

"To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic."

"Hardcore Democrats or Republicans never vote for the other side, so independent voters are the ones who actually decide who's in charge!" the Tesla CEO added in another tweet.

The billionaire's endorsement of the Republican party is not the first time Musk has shared his political views online. Musk posted a since-deleted tweet a meme of himself, Kanye West, and Donald Trump as the fictional Three Musketeers on Oct. 18.

He has also pledged to reinstate Donald Trump's account following its permanent suspension in January 2021. Musk's takeover has raised concern over how the site will moderate political disinformation.

Musk acquired the social media website in October, laying-off thousands of employees and firing the company's board. He has boasted that the platform will become a free-speech safe haven. Critics worry that hate speech and misinformation will increase under his ownership.

The use of the N-word increased 500 percent in the 12 hours after Musk took over Twitter according to The New Contagion Research Institute. Several advertisers have pulled their support since Musk took over.

Musk said he plans to charge a monthly subscription fee of $8 for so-called verified accounts, a verification system that protects public figures from impersonation.

Critics argue the new verification process will create a paywall make it more difficult for users to know which accounts are legitimate.