“Muir’s a dinosaur,” Musk reportedly said in a private meeting. “He’s been doing the same thing for years, and people are bored of it. The future of news isn’t some guy in a suit reading off a teleprompter. It’s dynamic, interactive, and, most importantly, fair.”
Muir has not publicly responded to the rumors of Musk’s potential buyout or the possibility of being ousted from his position. However, those close to the anchor say he’s taking the news in stride, knowing full well that Musk’s plans are far from a done deal.
“David’s been in this business a long time,” said one ABC insider. “He knows how to handle pressure, and he’s not about to let some billionaire tech mogul push him out without a fight.”
Still, the prospect of Musk buying ABC—and firing Muir—has sent shockwaves through the network. Some staffers are reportedly concerned about what Musk’s takeover could mean for journalistic integrity, while others are excited about the possibility of working for someone as innovative (and unpredictable) as Musk.
As news of Musk’s potential ABC buyout spread, reactions from the public have been predictably divided. Supporters of Musk, particularly those who share his disdain for mainstream media, have hailed the move as a long-overdue shakeup of a broken system.
“Finally, someone is going to take on the media!” one Musk fan tweeted. “David Muir’s been coasting for too long. It’s time for someone to bring real change, and Musk is the guy to do it.”
On the other hand, critics of Musk’s plan argue that his takeover of a major news network could spell disaster for journalism. With Musk’s well-documented tendency to clash with reporters and control the narrative on Twitter/X, some fear that ABC under Musk’s leadership would become more of a propaganda machine than a trusted news source.
“Elon Musk owning a news network? What could possibly go wrong?” one journalist sarcastically commented. “This is a man who blocks reporters for asking tough questions. Imagine what he’ll do if he runs ABC.”
