Republican leader of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters as he arrives at the US Capitol on the first day of the new Congress January 3, 2023 in Washington.
Evelyn Hockstein Reuters
Twitter CEO Elon Musk discussed how to make the social media site “fair on all sides” during a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., lawmakers told reporters Friday.
“He wants a level playing field” and that everyone has a vote, McCarthy said of the meeting in remarks reported by NBC News. “He’s really defending the First Amendment. And we had a really good discussion.”
Musk shared on Twitter Thursday night that he had met with McCarthy and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., “to discuss how this platform is fair to both of them.” On Thursday, McCarthy only shared that Musk came to wish him a happy birthday.
On Friday, McCarthy also confirmed that Jeffries was present at Thursday’s meeting and had not previously met Musk.
A Jeffries associate told the Washington Post that his encounter with Musk was purely coincidental and occurred when Musk left his meeting with McCarthy. Jeffries’ office confirmed the Washington Post anecdote to CNBC.
McCarthy also confirmed to reporters Friday that he called a meeting at his office that day with Musk and several top Republicans: Majority Leader Steve Scalise R-La., Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer , R-Ky., and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair of the Energy and Trade Committee, R-Wash.
McCarthy said he wants to “continue this discussion” about fairness on tech platforms with the other lawmakers as they seek to move legislation and ensure “Americans have an even voice,” NBC News reported.
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