What is controversial conspiracy theorist Alex Jones up to today? Donald Trump once praised the far-right InfoWars founder while Elon Musk allowed him back on Twitter – but he’s declared bankruptcy

Feb 23 , 2024

InfoWars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media outside Waterbury Superior Court during his trial in September 2022, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Jones’ conspiracy theories range from the US government backing 9/11 to vaccines causing autism – and he was charged with millions in damages for his false claims about the Sandy Hook school shooting

In 2020, he was slapped with a cease-and-desist order over products sold on his website claiming to cure Covid-19, and he declared bankruptcy in 2022 – but he still lives a luxurious life

Alex Jones, founder of InfoWars website and Genesis Communications Network US-syndicated radio host, is not only known for his far-right ties, but also for his continued promotion of conspiracy theories.

He rose to prominence after pushing multiple theories against the US government and the New World Order, an organisation he alleged was working against US citizens, from more than 15 years ago.

His broad audience and relationship with Donald Trump have seen him become one of America’s most influential right-wing conspiracy theorists. Trump himself told Jones in a 2015 radio interview that his “reputation is amazing”.

Alex Jones (centre), radio host and creator of the website InfoWars, with demonstrators during a You Can’t Close America rally in Austin, Texas, US, in April 2020. Photo: Bloomberg

But despite his legion of loyal followers, Jones has faced bankruptcy and had to backtrack on some claims – in particular, his theory that the Sandy Hook mass school shooting was staged by the US government.

Here is why Jones still makes headlines.

How Alex Jones made a comeback thanks to Elon Musk

Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ X (formerly Twitter) account in August 2018. Photo: AFP

In December, one of the richest men in the world, Elon Musk, posted a poll on X (formerly Twitter) where he asked users if Jones should be allowed to return to the platform. According to Al Jazeera, Jones, 50, had his X profile permanently banned five years ago after he repeatedly violated the platform’s abusive behaviour policy. Two million people responded to Musk’s poll, with most voting that Jones should be allowed back.

However, Musk has been criticised in the past for utilising X’s polls feature to inform important decisions. In November 2022, The Washington Post published a column titled “Hey, Elon Musk? Twitter polls are not the ‘voice of the people’”, which stated, “[X poll voters are] a self-selected group that is aware of the poll being conducted. They are also very possibly automated accounts.”

Musk has been vocal about how he considers himself a freedom-of-speech absolutist – which appears to extend to misinformation and hate speech, according to reports regarding his running of X – which probably motivated his decision to bring Jones back.

Jones reintroduced himself with a video promoting a discussion he allegedly had with Musk and controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who was charged with human trafficking, rape and organised crime in September 2023, per Sky News. Jones has over 2.1 million followers on the platform, at the time of writing.