The official X account of Elmo, the iconic children’s character from Sesame Street, was compromised Sunday and used to post a string of vulgar, antisemitic, and politically charged messages. The posts, which were quickly deleted, included threats against Jewish people, slurs, and profane accusations against President Donald Trump.
The incident appears to be a hacking event, as the account briefly promoted a crypto token called “$ELMO” before turning into a platform for hate speech. One of the now-deleted posts read, “Elmo says ALL JEWS SHOULD DIE,” followed by slurs and conspiracy theories linking Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The hacker’s attack also targeted Trump directly, labeling him a “child f*cker” and demanding he release the so-called “Epstein client list,” a long-circulating internet rumor with no credible basis. The Department of Justice and FBI have previously concluded Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and confirmed no incriminating “client list” exists.
The account takeover came amid renewed speculation on social media from fringe groups about Epstein’s connections and revived demands for transparency. MAGA supporters have called for further investigation into how elites may have been involved with Epstein, despite official findings. The situation has sparked outrage, particularly given Elmo’s long-standing role as a children’s icon.
President Trump responded on Truth Social, defending Attorney General Pam Bondi and calling attention to what he described as ongoing political smears tied to Epstein. He condemned the renewed focus on the case as a distraction fueled by Democrat operatives and media manipulation.
No official statement has been issued by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street. X, formerly Twitter, has not confirmed how the breach occurred.
