The viral story claiming Elon Musk posted an emotional open letter on September 11, 2025, commemorating the 24th anniversary of the attacks, pledging millions to victims’ families, and donating to memorial initiatives is false. This appears to be a fabricated narrative from low-credibility websites and social media posts designed to exploit the anniversary for engagement. There is no evidence of such a post, letter, or donation from Musk or his foundation in 2025.
What Actually Happened on 9/11 2025
- Musk did not post anything about 9/11 on X (formerly Twitter) that day. His timeline focused on Tesla’s Cybercab reveal, Starship updates, and a feud with Wikipedia over his article’s content (November 28, 2025, posts denouncing “Wokipedia” bias).
- No major news outlets (CNN, BBC, NYT, Reuters, Fox News) reported any tribute or donation from Musk. Instead, coverage centered on bipartisan outrage over the Trump administration’s February 2025 cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC Health Program), which provides care to 132,000 9/11 survivors and first responders. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashed 20% of the program’s staff and funding, terminating two research grants and causing delays in cancer certifications and enrollment. This drew rare bipartisan condemnation, including from New York Republicans, leading to a U-turn by May 2025 with rehiring and restored funds.
Musk’s Actual Philanthropy in 2025
Musk’s giving through the Musk Foundation was substantial but unrelated to 9/11:
- $474 million donated in 2024 (reported November 2025): Primarily to entities Musk controls, like The Foundation (for a STEM school in Austin) and donor-advised funds. Only a fraction went to external causes like education and health.
- $112 million in December 2024: Tesla shares to undisclosed charities, part of a pattern of stock donations for tax benefits.
- No 9/11-specific pledges. Musk’s foundation has donated to disaster relief (e.g., $30 million to Texas schools after SpaceX explosions in 2021), but nothing tied to September 11 victims in 2025.
The Hoax’s Origins and Spread
This story originated from a November 30, 2025, post on “AllPlayNews” and similar clickbait sites, using AI-generated images of Musk looking emotional and recycled 9/11 footage. It spread via YouTube videos (e.g., “Elon Musk’s Tearful 9/11 Tribute!”) and Facebook shares, garnering thousands of views before fact-checks debunked it. The narrative plays on Musk’s public emotional moments (e.g., his June 2025 feud with Trump) but invents the tribute to exploit anniversary sentiment.
Public Reaction and Broader Context
While the hoax drew emotional responses (e.g., #MuskRemembers911 with 100K posts), real discussions focused on the WTC Health Program cuts:
- Bipartisan backlash: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) called it “an outrage” (February 2025, CNN).
- Restoration: By May 2025, funding was reinstated amid public pressure, rehiring 16 staff (NY Daily News).
- Musk’s response: No comment on 9/11; his philanthropy faced criticism for being “self-serving” (NYT March 2025), with 2024 donations mostly benefiting his own projects.
Musk did post a general 9/11 remembrance on September 11, 2024 (one year prior), but it was a simple “Never forget” with no donation pledge.
Bottom Line
No tribute, letter, or donation exists. This is pure fiction for clicks. For accurate Musk philanthropy updates, check the Musk Foundation’s IRS filings or credible sources like Forbes or the Chronicle of Philanthropy. If new developments arise, we’ll report them
