NN reporter Brian Stelter expressed concern on Sunday about the potential consequences of Tesla CEO Elon Musk acquiring MSNBC. His comments came after Musk jokingly suggested the idea of purchasing the network, responding to a post by Donald Trump Jr. on X (formerly Twitter) that referenced reports about Comcast spinning off MSNBC and other cable channels.

Stelter's warning centered around the idea that Musk could alter the network’s editorial direction, possibly becoming more sympathetic toward President-elect Donald Trump.

Musk, known for his provocative online presence, made waves on social media Friday by humorously asking, “How much does it cost?” in response to Trump Jr.'s post about the potential sale of MSNBC. While many took it as a joke, the conversation quickly gained traction, especially among critics of the network.

How much does it cost?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2024

During an appearance on CNN’s CNN Newsroom with host Kayle Tausche, Stelter raised concerns about Musk's influence. “The incoming President Trump is joined at the hip by the owner of the old platform Twitter, now known as X, and every tweet Musk posts is now scrutinized very carefully for clues about what he might do or not do,” Stelter said. “So I think this solves — this ends the argument about how important these social media platforms are.”

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Stelter acknowledged that Musk's comments about possibly buying MSNBC could be part of his characteristic trolling, but warned that it could also signal something more significant. “Over the weekend, for example, Musk is joking, I think, about maybe trying to buy MSNBC. It seems he’s just trying to troll. Comcast is not making MSNBC up for sale right now. Maybe something will change in a few years. But those tweets, those posts from Musk, those memes that he’s posting, it just speaks to his power and his center of power throughout this incoming administration,” he said.

Tausche then pointed out that although Musk may be trolling, there is a real possibility that Comcast might sell a part of its business. “Comcast is cleaving off a part of the business that could potentially be an affordable acquisition. Do you think that there’s any possibility that it’s more than a joke?” she asked.

Stelter responded with a dire warning, drawing comparisons to “democratic backsliding” in other countries where government allies acquire media outlets and change their editorial direction.

“Some inside MSNBC are taking Musk’s comments seriously. Whether he’s trolling or not, there is a serious undercurrent to this, and it is the following: In some countries, where we’ve seen democratic backsliding, where some oppositional media outlets have been captured by the government, a process known as media capture, this is exactly what happens,” Stelter said.

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“An ally of the leader, like Musk, comes in and buys a media outlet that is viewed as oppositional, and then he turns the content and makes it more friendly to the person in power. That has happened before in other countries. That’s part of the concern when — even if Elon Musk is just joking, that’s part of the concern here when it comes to MSNBC.”

Stelter's comments were made in the context of a broader discussion on media and its role in the political landscape.

The prospect of Musk buying MSNBC is particularly significant, given the network's history of anti-Trump coverage since the 2016 election season.

Following Trump's victory in 2024, MSNBC's ratings reportedly dropped by over 50%, a shift that has sparked debate about the network's future and its editorial direction.

Despite the speculation, Stelter clarified that there is no immediate plan for a sale of MSNBC. “At the moment, this spin-off that Comcast is doing will take at least a year to complete,” he noted.

“There’s no immediate sale or any of that, I’m told, that is planned.” However, the idea of Musk potentially controlling MSNBC seemed to trouble Stelter. “It would be pretty ironic if he controlled MSNBC,” he said.

Musk's comments about the media landscape, his business ventures, and his growing influence have continued to make headlines, raising questions about how he might impact both social media and traditional news outlets.

His recent suggestion about buying MSNBC, while seemingly lighthearted, has struck a chord with critics who worry about the consolidation of media power.

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