Can we learn to tell good knowledge from bad? Elon Musk interviewed Donald Trump on X — but not everything they said had evidence. Here are some tips for separating facts from fiction.
Trump spouts stream of untruths on X
Hype: Donald Trump claimed that “60 million or something” were listening to his triumphal return to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday in a conversation with Elon Musk. Only 1.1 million were listening at that moment. Musk did not correct him. Glossary
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
Donald Trump - An American politician, media personality, and businessman serving as the 47th president of the United States since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.
Evidence - Something which proves that something else is true.
Falkland Islands - A remote South Atlantic archipelago with a population of just over 2,800. It is a British Overseas Territory.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
Hackers - Somebody who breaks into computer systems and gets hold of data they are allowed to see. They often then blackmail the group they have stolen data from, and ask for money in return for their data back.
Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.
Critical thinking - Analysing available facts, evidence and arguments to form a reasonable judgement.
Worldview - The way someone sees and understands the world.
Biased - Unfairly showing dislike or like.