The Supreme Court has rejected Elon Musk’s appeal to remove his “Twitter sitter,” a legal requirement that stems from an agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which mandates that he seek approval for any posts about Tesla. Despite arguing that this requirement infringed upon his free speech rights, the court dismissed his claim. In December, Musk petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the settlement, claiming that it restricted his speech even in cases where it was truthful and posed a threat of fines or imprisonment for protected speech that was not pre-approved by the SEC. However, the court declined to take up the case and did not provide a reason for their decision.
Musk has had a history of public disputes with government agencies, openly criticizing the SEC and making disparaging remarks about President Joe Biden. He has also engaged in public disagreements with foreign officials. Recently, the SEC launched a new investigation into Tesla’s self-driving technology, which has faced scrutiny from regulators following several accidents. Musk’s contentious relationship with regulatory authorities highlights the ongoing challenges faced by his companies in navigating legal and regulatory landscapes. Despite this setback, Musk remains determined to continue leading his companies towards innovation and success.