The new owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, makes so many announcements on the social network that it is difficult to keep track of them. Just last week, Musk polled Twitter users on whether he should issue a “general amnesty” to suspended accounts, and publicly disputed whether disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried owns part of Twitter. Then Musk took it upon himself again, saying that he could make an alternative smartphone to take on Apple and Google.

This is Musk’s response to a tweet by conservative podcast host Liz Wheeler, who tweeted that Elon should make his own smartphone if Apple and Google decide to remove Twitter from their app stores. The future of Twitter in Apple and Google stores has been a hot topic of late, given Musk’s commitment to “free speech” and lax content moderation.

“If Apple & Google boot Twitter from their app stores,
Elon Musk should produce his own smartphone. Half the country would happily ditch the biased, snooping iPhone & Android,” wrote Wheeler. “The man builds rockets to Mars, a silly little smartphone should be easy, right?”.

Musk told Wheeler that he would build his own smartphone if Twitter was banned from Apple and Google stores.

“I certainly hope it does not come to that, but, yes, if there is no other choice, I will make an alternative phone,” wrote Mask.

Wheeler conducted her own survey, asking followers whether they would use Musk’s smartphone. At the time of posting this the voting was completed, the answer “yes” turned out to be the most popular – 51.2% of more than 130 thousand votes.

Both Apple and Google have policies that prohibit apps in their stores that contain hate speech or discriminatory language, bullying, harassment, and sexually explicit content. After the attack on the Capitol on January 6, Apple and Google removed the social networking app Parler from their app stores for its role in helping rioters plan the event, although it was allowed to return after making changes. As reported, Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye, is buying Parler.