Fox News reported on “an energy-saving device that can save 90% of electricity” from Elon Musk.
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Altered images of Fox News host Sean Hannity, Elon Musk make a false promise
Altered images of Fox News host Sean Hannity and Tesla CEO Elon Musk appear to promise Americans a way to save hundreds of dollars on their energy bills.
A July 12 Facebook post shows the chyron of what looks like an image from Hannity’s Fox News, saying "an effective way to save money on your electricity bill." A photo of Elon Musk holding something appears in the corner, with a graphic indicating an old electricity bill of $240 and a new electricity bill of $15.
A second image, below the one of Hannity, appears to show Musk standing in front of a building that says "Watt Saver Intelligent." The supposed Fox News chyron below this image says: "Elon Musk’s factory is about to be closed."
"Under the pressure of united electric power giants, Elon has signed a production agreement, and this energy-saving device that can save 90% of electricity is about to be discontinued," says theFacebook post sharing these images. "There are only 10,000 units left. The factory will be closed next month."
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
The image of Hannity comes from a May 2018 Fox News broadcast in which he discussed the "deep state," not Musk or electric bills.
The photo of Musk was taken in September 2020, when Musk visited the construction site of Tesla’s planned "Gigafactory" in Germany.
Featured Fact-check
We found no news stories or other credible sources connecting Musk to a company called "Watt Saver Intelligent," and while Fox News has reported on the temporary closure of a Tesla factory in California due to the coronavirus, we found nothing like what’s suggested in this Facebook post.
The post includes a link that echoes the imagery and colors of Fox News’ website, but it’s not connected to the broadcaster. Rather, the URL is info.aoamail.com, and after many paragraphs of text replete with what appear to be fake quotes from Musk, there’s another link to buy a supposed "WattSaver" product unrelated to the Tesla CEO.
We rate this post False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, July 12, 2023
The Washington Post, At Tesla’s ‘Gigafactory’ site in Germany, Elon Musk comes up against green activism and red tape, July 4, 2021
The Guardian, 'He's a risk-taker': Germans divided over Elon Musk's new GigaFactory, Jan. 5, 2021
Fox News, Elon Musk reopens Tesla factory closed by coronavirus: 'If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,’ May 11, 2020
Insider, Elon Musk invites residents and members of the public to take a tour of Tesla's new Gigafactory in Germany, Aug. 14, 2021
YouTube, Hannity: The 'deep state' dam is about to burst, May 21, 2018
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
Altered images of Fox News host Sean Hannity, Elon Musk make a false promise
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.