Fact check: This X post was posted by Elon Musk.

Verdict: mostly true — Trust Score 68/100

The post accurately attributes a statement made by Elon Musk in May 2026 regarding the economic consequences of "eating the rich." It also correctly identifies Zohran Mamdani as the Mayor of New York City, who has pursued policies to tax the wealthy and address budget deficits. However, the claims made by Lydia about the definitive success of these policies—that the budget is balanced, the deficit closed, public services funded, the rich did not vanish, and the city did not starve—are premature and oversimplified, as the economic impacts are still being assessed and debated. confirmed by 4 sources.

mostly true verification card — Trust Score 68/100
Platform
threads
Source author
i.make.comment — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.threads.com/@i.make.comment/post/DaqmBTtHWlB?xmt=AQG0jX_3Z4ZcXrKHvaFSPcKULPSzrbgCyHfuNSQhbVTOhjXUIDVjlnpSzmvSDS-7fqC31BAx
Verified on
July 12, 2026
Verification ID
ZpC9Y9r7WU57x6EDI2Oj6g

Original content reviewed

Platform: THREADS Author: @i.make.comment --- Caption/Description --- "and then I said DON'T EAT ME, and they actually believed me!" --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- Elon Musk @elonmusk · May 14 The problem is that after they "eat the rich", they will starve 2.9K 3.2K 41K 1.6M lydia @lydianmodal Follow New York City just tested this claim. Mamdani taxed wealth, balanced the budget, closed the deficit, and kept public services funded. The rich did not vanish. The city did not starve. SOURCE PLATFORM: X ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: THREADS Author: @i.make.comment --- HOW TO VERIFY THIS (provenance-first) --- 1. SOURCE-TRACE: take the MOST DISTINCTIVE, verbatim details above — exact unusual quotes, named people/places/objects — and web-search them TOGETHER as a combination, alongside the subject/person shown and the topic, to find the ORIGINAL source of this clip (an official channel, the uploader, a news report). A combination of distinctive phrases has essentially ONE source on the web. 2. JUDGE FROM PROVENANCE: If a credible source (official account, established news outlet) documents this exact clip/event, it is a REAL, documented event — verify accordingly, and use that source to confirm WHO is shown. If after searching NO credible source corroborates an extraordinary or specific claim, state it CANNOT BE VERIFIED (and for a sensational claim lean toward not-credible). Do NOT default to "verified" on tangential, generic facts. --- Caption/Description --- "and then I said DON'T EAT ME, and they actually believed me!" --- Visible Text/Media --- A screenshot of an X (formerly Twitter) conversation between Elon Musk and user @lydianmodal, discussing the economic impact of taxing the wealthy. --- Claims to Verify --- 1. Elon Musk claimed that after people "eat the rich", they will starve. 2. Lydia claimed that New York City tested Elon Musk's claim. 3. Lydia claimed that Mamdani taxed wealth, balanced the budget, closed the deficit, and kept public service

Claims analyzed (6)

  1. verified: This X post was posted by Elon Musk.
    Elon Musk made the statement "The problem is that after they 'eat the rich', they will starve" on X in May 2026. This has been widely reported by news outlets.
  2. verified: Elon Musk claimed that after people "eat the rich", they will starve.
    Elon Musk made this exact statement on X in May 2026, as reported by multiple news sources.
  3. mostly true: Lydia claimed that New York City tested Elon Musk's claim.
    While New York City, under Mayor Mamdani, has implemented policies that involve taxing the wealthy, it is an oversimplification to state that the city "tested" Elon Musk's specific claim as a controlled experiment. Mamdani's policies are part of a broader political and economic strategy.
  4. mixed: Lydia claimed that Mamdani taxed wealth, balanced the budget, closed the deficit, and kept public services funded in New York City.
    Mayor Zohran Mamdani has indeed pursued policies to tax the wealthy, such as a pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes and limiting business tax credits. He also unveiled a budget that he claims balances the budget and closes a significant deficit, partly through state aid and savings. However, the extent to which these measures have definitively balanced the budget, closed the deficit, and kept all public services funded without compromise is still a subject of ongoing debate and analysis. Some
  5. mostly true: Lydia claimed that the rich did not vanish in New York City after wealth was taxed.
    While there are concerns and warnings from business leaders about potential wealth migration due to higher taxes, data from previous tax increases in New York State suggests that millionaire populations have continued to grow, and significant exodus has not occurred. However, the long-term impact of Mamdani's specific policies is still being observed.
  6. verified: Lydia claimed that New York City did not starve after wealth was taxed.
    There is no evidence to suggest that New York City has "starved" or experienced widespread economic collapse as a direct result of Mayor Mamdani's wealth taxation policies. While economic impacts are complex and ongoing, the city continues to function, and public services are generally maintained.

Sources consulted (16)

Related verifications

AI-generated analysis. Not a substitute for professional fact-checking.