Social media firm boss says he will sue media watchdog that said ads were being placed alongside antisemitic content.

Elon Musk has announced his intention to file a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against Media Matters and others, following the suspension of advertising by major US companies on his social media platform due to concerns about antisemitism.

The media watchdog Media Matters reported earlier this week that corporate advertisements from IBM, Apple, Oracle, and Comcast’s Xfinity were appearing alongside antisemitic content, including praise for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

This revelation prompted several prominent names in the technology and media sectors to declare their decision to pull their advertising. This list includes Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Disney.

“Once the court opens on Monday, X Corp will initiate legal proceedings with a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company,” Musk stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On Wednesday, Musk endorsed a post on X that falsely asserted that Jewish individuals were fueling animosity against white people. Musk supported the user who referenced the "great replacement" conspiracy theory, stating that they were "speaking the actual truth."

In response to a story by Media Matters for America that Musk claimed misrepresented the real experience on X, he posted a statement, asserting that the report was another attempt to undermine freedom of speech and mislead advertisers. Musk emphasized X's commitment to protecting the public's right to free speech, even if it involves content that some may find objectionable.

While Musk did not address the controversy surrounding his tweet directly, he has previously denied allegations of antisemitism. He also refuted the findings presented by Media Matters.

Notably, Apple had been one of X's major advertisers, spending up to $100 million (£80 million) annually as of November 2022 when Musk acquired the platform. Subsequently, X has seen a decline in advertisers and user numbers, coupled with the introduction of a paid premium system by Musk, purportedly aimed at addressing bots on the site.

The White House criticized Musk's tweet on Friday, condemning it as an "abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate" contrary to American core values. Referring to the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated that repeating such a lie one month after the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust is unacceptable.