"At least we still have Steven King" — Internet reacts to Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon leaving X after Elon Musk's inclusion in Trump's cabinet
On November 13, 2024, American television journalist Don Lemon, and actress Jamie Lee Curtis left Elon Musk's social media platform, X. This happened shortly after Trump included Musk in his cabinet.
While Don Lemon mentioned in his statement that he was leaving X due to the new terms of service that the platform will be integrated from November 15, 2024, Jamie Lee Curtis shared a photo of her deactivated X account on Instagram and stated:
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can. And the wisdom to know the difference."
Internet users were quick to react to the news of Jamie and Don Lemon leaving X after Elon Musk's inclusion in Trump's cabinet and expressed their opinions on the same.
Referring to author Stephen King's presence on X despite expressing discontent with Musk multiple times, an X user tweeted:
"Of course no one really cares that Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon left X. BUT I do think it's important X remains for everybody and not just a media outlet for the right. At least we still have Steven King 😄"
"On top of Trump’s picks, Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon deleted their X accounts… Can this day get any better? I can’t handle so much winning…" an X user stated
"Dear Don Lemon and the rest of the losers that want to leave X — You can just leave. No announcement is needed." another X user commented
"Don Lemon announces he is leaving Twitter. Past his prime TV guy with no audience bails on one of last places people see his work." an internet user said
Some netizens also made fun of the actress and the journalist for leaving X and announcing it:
"Jamie Lee Curtis & Don Lemon have left X. Boohooo 😭" an X user mentioned
"I'm sure @donlemon's 10s of follower will extremely disappointed to see him go! Not sure how YouTube will handle all the traffic." another X user commented
On the other hand, an internet user said that Don Lemon and Jamie Lee Curtis leaving X was a "big move":
"Don Lemon and Jamie Lee Curtis both leaving Twitter/X is definitely a big move! It shows how some public figures are distancing themselves from the platform for various reasons." an X user tweeted
Elon Musk to head newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency
President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 12, 2024, that Elon Musk and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will run the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As per ABC7 New York, Trump said in his statement:
"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies."
Trump mentioned that the department run by Musk will not be a federal agency in the U.S. government, but it will offer guidance and advice outside of the government as well as collaborate with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to "drive structural government reform."
The president-elect added that he looks forward to Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy by keeping an eye on efficiency and making life better for Americans.
In addition to Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon, global news organization The Guardian has also announced its departure from X. As per Business Standard, on November 13, 2024, The Guardian posted a statement, calling X a toxic platform and stating that the platform's owner Elon Musk has used it to influence political discourse.