Elon Musk Text Messages from Twitter Pre-Trial in Easy-to-Read Format

A new, easy-to-read formatting for many of Elon Musk’s texts was shared by Dan Luu, with the messages taking place between January and June about the $44 billion Twitter purchase. The trove of messages were publicly released ahead of the Twitter-Musk trial slated for October 17 (which may not happen if Twitter and Musk finalize the latter’s deal to buy the company again).

Many of the texts sent from Musk’s iPhone seem innocuous enough, simply setting up plans to chat about the potential for either working on Twitter funding or debuting a new app with improved protocols.

Others include more background information on the deal and tweets that Musk had made near the beginning of the deal’s initiation. We also see messages of support from Musk’s friends and business contacts on the news of his Twitter investment.

Here is one such text thread between Private Equity Executive Antonio Gracias that took place on March 5, 2022:

• Antonio Gracias [VC]: Wow…I saw your tweet re free speech. Wtf is going on Elon…
• Elon: EU passed a law banning Russia Today and several other Russian news sources. We have been told to black their IP address.
• Elon: Actually, I find their news quite entertaining
• Elon: Lot of bullshit, but some good points too
• Antonio: This is fucking nuts…you are totally right. I 100% agree with you.
• Elon: We should allow it precisely be we hate it…that is the ping of the American constitution.
• Antonio: Exactly
• Elon: Free speech matters mast when it’s someone you hate spouting what you think is bullshit.
• Antonio: I am 100% with you Elon. To the fucking mattresses no matter what …..this is a principle we need to fucking defend with our lives or we are lost to the darkness.
• Antonio: Sorry for the swearing. I am getting excited.
• Elon: [“loved” “I am 100%…”]
• Elon: [2022-04-26] On a call. Free in 3O mins.
• Antonio: Ok. I’ll call you in 30

Musk later addressed Twitter’s bot data problem in a text thread ahead of a Bay Area meeting with CEO Parag Agrawal and Bret Taylor, the texts taking place between March 31 and April 1.

• Elon: Crypto spam on Twitter really needs to get crushed. It’s a major blight on the user experience and they scam so many innocent people.
• Bret: It sounds like we are confirming 7pm at a private residence near San Jose. Our assistants reached out to Jehn on logistics. Let me know if either of you have any concerns or want to move things around. Looking forward to our conversation.
• Parag: Works for me. Excited to see you both in person!
• Elon: Jehn had a baby and I decided to try having no assistant for a few months
• Elon: Likewise
• Bret: The address is [redacted]
• Bret: Does 7pm work for you Elon?
• Elon: Probably close to that time. Might only be able to get there by 7:30, but will try for earlier.
• Bret: Sounds good. I am going to be a bit early because my plane is landing earlier but free all evening so we can start whenever you get there and Parag and I can catch up in the meantime
• Bret: This wins for the weirdest place I’ve had a meeting recently. I think they were looking for an airbnb near the airport and there are tractors and donkeys 🤷
• Elon: Haha awesome
• Elon: Maybe Airbnb’s algorithm thinks you love tractors and donkeys (who doesn’t!)
• Elon: On my way. There in about 15 mins.
• Bret: And abandoned trucks in case we want to start a catering business after we meet
• Elon: Sounds like a post-apocalyptic movie set
• Bret: Basically yes
• Elon: Great dinner:)
• Bret: Really great. The donkeys and dystopian surveillance helicopters added to the ambiance
• Elon: Definitely one for the memory books haha
• Parag: Memorable for multiple reasons. Really enjoyed it

Some other tidbits include revelations of where Musk stayed when he was in Vancouver, BC, Canada during his TED Talk visit, plus the fact he only wants to deal with high level software engineers from Twitter. It’s clear Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and how the latter speaks, pushes Musk in the wrong way. It’s also a fascinating insight into how Musk texts: short and to the point, similar to how he shares info on Twitter.

• 2022-04-09 [interleaved with above]
  • Parag: You are free to tweet “is Twitter dying?” or anything else about Twitter -but it’s my responsibility to tell you that it’s not helping me make Twitter better in the current context. Next time we speak, I’d like to you provide you perspective on the level of internal distraction right now and how it hurting our ability to do work. I hope the AMA will help people get to know you, to understand why you believe in Twitter, and to trust you -and I’d like the company to get to a place where we are more resilient and don’t get distracted, but we aren’t there right now.
  • Elon: What did you get done this week?
  • Elon: I’m not joining the board. This is a waste of time.
  • Elon: Will make an offer to take Twitter private.
  • Parag: Can we talk?

The news comes after Elon Musk’s deposition was delayed due to a reinvigorated bid to close the purchase deal.

You can see the full-text transcript here on Dan Luu’s website, including dozens of Musk’s text messages surrounding the Twitter deal. The original ‘Exhibit H’ PDF can be found here, but it’s harder to read.