Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Venture Crashes in Stunning Setback
Elon Musk Faces Major Setback as X Platform Crashes Across U.S.
By Stacy Liberatore for DailyMail.com
Published: 19:54 BST, 22 May 2025 | Updated: 21:32 BST, 22 May 2025
Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, experienced a widespread outage today, leaving thousands of users unable to access the platform. The crash, which began around 11:00 AM ET, primarily affected East Coast users, with additional reports in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
X, purchased by Musk for $44 billion, faced server issues starting at 2:30 PM ET. Users reported app and website failures (Image: Downdetector).
Downdetector, a service tracking online disruptions, confirmed the outage. Roughly 56% of issues involved the website, 35% the app, and 9% server connection failures. Users vented frustrations online, with one comparing X’s performance to “a snail” and others advocating rival platforms like Discord.
Political and Financial Woes Compound Crisis
The outage adds to Musk’s growing challenges. Last month, his $20 million bid to support Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel failed as Democrat Susan Crawford won the seat. Meanwhile, Tesla sales plummeted 13% in April amid competition from Chinese EV makers and backlash over Musk’s controversial X posts.
Complaints surged on Downdetector as connectivity issues worsened (Image: Downdetector).
Internationally, Musk faces scrutiny for alleged incendiary social media behavior, including unproven claims of a Nazi salute at a political event. Anti-Tesla protests have followed, with vandalism reported against Models 3, X, and the Cybertruck.
White House Exit
Musk’s influence in politics also waned recently. After dominating White House operations during President Trump’s first 100 days—attending Cabinet meetings and even bringing his toddler to briefings—he has since exited the administration.
As X struggles to stabilize, critics question Musk’s ability to manage high-stakes ventures amid mounting controversies. With Tesla’s stock falling and public trust eroding, the billionaire’s ambitious projects face unprecedented headwinds.
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