The web burst in shock on Monday evening when the official Twitter account of Elmo—well-established for its wholesome, educational posts connected to Sesame Street—was hacked and used to send inflammatory political tweets aimed at former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The first of the stunning tweets came around 7:20 p.m. ET with these words, “RELEASE THE FILES @realDonaldTrump CHILD FU***R,” — a clear allusion to long-rumored Epstein files, which have been a hotbed of conspiracy and political controversy.
In short order, the tone of the account swiftly changed. Other tweets came along, among them one in which it declared, “DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU’S PUPPET BECAUSE HE IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES,” along with a fusillade of anti-Semitic insults and fantastical accusations that shook social media websites.
Online Community Reacts in Horror
Social media users responded with anger, disbelief, and confusion, as Elmo’s wholesome persona was hijacked for off-color political messaging. Quickly, many speculated that the account had been hacked, citing the drastic departure from the tone and mission of the brand.
The swift removal of the tweets only added fuel to the fire. Even though the posts went viral, no word had been issued by Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, until 8:04 p.m. ET.
Digital Sabotage or Targeted Political Hack?
The content of the tweets and their explicit mentions of Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicate that the hacker or hackers were advancing an intentional political agenda. Employing Elmo’s image, an icon of innocence and trust as well as childhood, seems to have been a premeditated attempt at maximizing shock value and virality.
The incident reignited discussions regarding the security of online accounts, particularly among high-profile and renowned children’s brands. It also follows heightened public interest in Epstein-related claims following recent incidents of tension between Trump and Elon Musk, who himself made, and then deleted, innuendo-laden tweets referencing Trump’s name being in the Epstein documents.
Calls for Accountability and Investigation
The hack has also prompted demands for Sesame Workshop and X (previously Twitter) to clarify the situation and improve security measures. Thus far, the company has not acknowledged the hack, nor has it returned the account to typical activity.
Cybersecurity experts believe this is potentially part of a broader trend of hacktivist-type incursions, where established brands are leveraged to disseminate misinformation and encourage public response.
Until there is an official announcement, rumors still abound, and the now-naughty Elmo account remains at the eye of a cyberstorm.
