Elon Musk's Hostile Twitter Takeover Bid Leaves Conservatives Ecstatic

Conservative figureheads have reacted positively to the news that billionaire Elon Musk has offered to buy 100 percent of Twitter's shares.

On Thursday, Musk tweeted a link to his letter to Twitter's chairman, Bret Taylor, announcing the bid, which values the social media company at $43 billion.

In the letter, Musk highlighted that he believed Twitter's full potential is yet to be realized and he also said it was an important platform for free speech.

Former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted that Musk's move was "the best news for free speech in years."

Former Georgia state representative Vernon Jones also posted his excitement at this decision by Musk.

"Breaking: Elon Musk just made a $43 billion offer to buy 100 percent of Twitter," he tweeted.

"This is how we take down Big Tech. Elon is quickly becoming my favorite African-American.

Former Fox News host Trish Regan also praised Musk for this step and hoped it could shift the "social media landscape."

"Incredible. If it happens. Elon Musk will play a major role in transforming the social media landscape and restoring our first amendment."

The offer, which comes after the Tesla CEO bought a 9.2 percent stake in Twitter but decided not to take a seat on the board, sent Twitter shares surging by as much as 10 percent in pre-market trading.

Right-wing political commentator Megyn Kelly simply tweeted "go @elonmusk go!" as she shared an article about Musk's decision.

Scott Morefield, a writer with Town Hall, a conservative news website, also noted the significance of this move by Musk in comparison to his other endeavors.

"This—presumably restoring free speech to the world's most important social media platform (A.K.A. the public square)—is the most consequential thing you will do in your life," he tweeted.

"Not electric cars, not rockets, not being the world's richest person. This."

Following the announcement, Twitter issued a statement confirming that it had received the offer. It said its board would carefully review the proposal "to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interest of the company and all Twitter stockholders."

As well as highlighting why he believed Twitter was imperative to free speech, Musk said in his letter to Taylor that he intends to take Twitter private, which would give him greater control over setting the company's course.

"As I indicated this weekend, I believe that the company should be private to go through the changes that need to be made," Musk wrote in a message he sent via text.

"After the past several days of thinking this over, I have decided I want to acquire the company and take it private.

"I am going to send you an offer letter tonight, it will be public in the morning."

Also in the letter, Musk explained why he believed Twitter could be improved and why he was the person needed to do it.

"I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy," Musk wrote in the letter.

"However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.

"As a result, I am offering to buy 100% of Twitter for $54.20 per share in cash, a 54% premium over the day before I began investing in Twitter and a 38% premium over the day before my investment was publicly announced.

"My offer is my best and final offer and if it is not accepted, I would need to reconsider my position as a shareholder."

Newsweek has contacted Twitter for comment.

UPDATE 04/14/22 at 10:05 a.m. EDT: This article was updated with reaction and details of Musk's announcement.