"after supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 last year under the belief that the election of Joe Biden was "stolen" – something Trump falsely claimed ad nauseam."

Trump did not 'falsely' claim, rather he claimed, period. If TheReg is going to take a stand that the election was not stolen, then the word should not be in quotes, rather as a matter of plain fact, a claim that still does not need a description.

It's stolen in quotes because that was the term Trump used without defining what he meant. If he had said how the election was invalid the reason wouldn't be in quotes, but the direct quote was "stolen"

I get what you're saying, I just see it as the whole British-demure-euphemistic thing that I come to the site for.

It's a nice break from all the north am crassness, and dude, I live in canada.

Also, I suspect the demographic you're crusading against has no idea you, me, this site or its commentard denizens even exist.

That said-- I for one am crestfallen that a ca-trillion-zillionaire cannot do whatever he wants. All is ashes, that the world has come to this.

There are medications and therapy available for mental illness...

Yeah, but OP can't afford them under the US healthcare system, since their employer-supplied insurance doesn't cover the first $23,400 of the $23,450 per annum the manufacturers (who monopolised the production) have agreed with the insurance company that it'll cost.

Shame there isn't a better healthcare system out there that isn't COMMUNISM!!!!!!111111, but there you go.

"Stolen" was the claim, and it was made falsely. El reg don't have to take a stand, 50+ courts already ruled the Trump claims were bogus.

Trump was thrown off Twitter after trying to get Mike Pence lynched for not going along with the coup. He is not a victim here, he is the primary perp.

He freely went his way onto other networks, including his own, and people did not follow, apparently they don't care.

Musk tried to turn over-valued Tesla shares into Twitter ownership, Tesla share price plummetted and he's trying to back out of the deal, adding extra conditions and generally get a discount. Tough, perhaps he should go buy "Truth Central" or "Trump Truthful" or whatever that shit is called.

Musk's sudden love of Republicans, (my guess is late-disclosure of the shares in Twitter he accumulated caused an investigation, which caused his victimhood). But his recent sex allegations and his old 'pedo guy' accusations, also make me wonder if him and Matt Gaetz have more in common than being massive twats.

Why are there complex rules like this for buyouts?

Why aren't you just allowed to buy on the open market and then place your people on the board once you have 51%

Then the free market will set the price that you pay, as people see the quantity of available shares remaining the price will rise without silly over the top bids.

Perhaps just some rule that you can buy out the remaining shares at the current price once you reach some 51-75% ownership.

Well, just off the top of my head is to prevent covert purchasing. The price goes up more due to the consolidation into a single entity. If I have the means, I can set up a series of shells that each buy, say, 5% of the shares slowly over time. This appears like normal trading, preventing a large movement in the price. Once my shells have done that, I then purchase my own shells from myself and collect their stakes, centralizing power without a major price shift.

By making a major takeover public you ensure the current holders of the shares get a proper value based on your desire rather than using clandestine means to keep the price low.

We don't have rules about "covert buying" for physical goods, why have them for equity in a company? Buying land in a way that disguises the true final purchaser and their intent to combine the plots is a thing that is done.

You are mixing up the financing of the buyout with the buyout itself. Musk has a financial house of cards he is juggling to produce the funding to buy enough of the publicly traded twitter shares to take it private.

At a high level the buyout works exactly as you have articulated.

Didn't I call this? Didn't I?

I don't often get these things right, someone give me a pint!

Here's your pint.

And in the immortal words of Nelson from the Simpsons. "Ha-ha..."

Excellent!

*finger taps*

The world hangs on every word of Elon Musk.

Don't worry, once the noose gets a bit tighter it'll stop kicking.

Oh. Maybe we should worry.

Oh jeez, don't encourage the guy.

He hasn't even got the keys to the boardroom, and his plans are already in tatters. It doesn't bode well does it?

[We need an icon that's a shark bite in a surfboard. No, mate, it's not a seal; it's fibreglass and foam.]

Good - the more it costs him to give Drumpf a platform, the better.

It couldn't be happening to a better person.......

As you say the more it costs him the better, particularly if it is his money or from assets he has a hand in and has to sell.

The Donald has a platform, it's just that nobody, including himself, use it...

Drumpf has a platform... Truth Social. According to him, it is where all the action is and Twitter is a desert.

(since when had Drumpf ever been known to tell the truth eh?)

He's about to make about $100M from the deal that set it up at the expense of all the small trumpers/MAGA supporters who invested in it... and saw their investments become almost worthless overnight.

...then who will actually own it if he's bringing in all these extra high spending investors? Will he personally own or control 51% or not?

He's said that he will only stay on 'board' until he can 'fix' the shithole that he thinks Twitter has become since No 45 was ejected. Then he'll IPO it and make a crapload of money from even more idiots who hang on his every word... As good Cult members, it is expected that you:-

- Drive a Tesla (or more)

- Have at least one Tesla Powerwall in your home

- Have Tesla solar panels or tiles on your roof

And

- pray to Elon every night before you go to bed.

- Not allow anyone to say anything against the 'Dear Leader' even if it is in jest.