Dear Editor:

I am writing to express deep concern over the troubling spread of misinformation by the Trump White House regarding the reality of what the downsizing of the federal government is doing to the United States and the world. The White House has established a Rapid Response social media account to quickly react to unfolding developments in the U.S. and overseas. But this unit, with its tech and video savvy employees, is not disseminating the truth. In fact, as the White House itself said, the account has been created to disseminate messages to support “Trump’s America First agenda and hold the Fake News accountable for their lies.”

Elon Musk’s close ties to Trump create a dangerous synergy, where misinformation from both the White House and tech platforms merge, confusing the public and making it even harder to discern fact from fiction. Musk’s influence over platforms like Twitter, and his public alignment with some of the administration's more contentious views, further blurs the lines between truth and fabrication.

The consequences of spreading misinformation on tech platforms are severe. By distorting the reality of government actions, policies, and events, the White House undermines public trust in its leadership and fosters division and misinformation at the grassroots level. People often believe the misinformation, and approve of policies which, in fact, hurt rather than help them. They are left in the dark, unable to make informed decisions about their lives, their rights, and their country.

Wendy Ross

Wiscasset