Revealed: The operators behind four major neo-Nazi X accounts
Revealed: The operators behind four major neo-Nazi X accounts
Anonymity has long been a tactic used by extremists to spread their ideology while avoiding social consequences, from Klansmen hoods to online pseudonyms.
Summary
Under Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter) has become a hub for white supremacist content due to reduced moderation.
A Texas Observer investigation identified four neo-Nazi account operators, tied to Texas, New Hampshire, and Virginia, whose content has amassed 500,000 followers and millions of views.
Despite sharing antisemitic and pro-Nazi rhetoric, some accounts received responses from Musk and benefited from ad revenue and verification.
Public figures, including politicians, follow these accounts. Employers and the Navy are investigating the individuals, raising questions about accountability and platform policies.
Through reviewing posts on X, web archives, leak databases, and other social media profiles, the Observer identified the following individuals as the anonymous operators of neo-Nazi X accounts, which had a collective 500,000 followers at their peak:
Cyan Cruz (40 years old): Marketing professional who has lived in Austin and Amarillo, Texas, operating the X account TheOfficial1984.
Michael Gramer (42 years old): Retired mechanical engineer who has lived in New Hampshire, claimed to own a house in Galveston, Texas, and spent time in Dallas, operating the X account 9mm_SMG.
Robert “Bobby” Thorne (35 years old): Vice president at JP Morgan Chase in Plano, Texas, operating the account Noble1945 and previously Noble_x_x_.
John Anthony Provenzano (30 years old): Lives in Virginia, works at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Indian Head, Maryland, and operates the X account utism_ (formerly JohnnyBullzeye).
120Think any of them will get fired or face legal issues for this? Pretty sure the naval one will have a bad time.
61The guy working the naval shipyard might get got if he's part of a Nazi club. SF86 is a questionnaire required for a security clearance. Section 29 asks if you've committed an act of terror or are associated with groups dedicated to restricting constitutional rights of citizens or overthrowing the government.
If nothing else, lying on a federal form is a federal crime.
72
The Naval warfare centre guy and JP Morgan chase guy for sure. Especially if people shine some more light on this and bring it to the attention of their employers.
13You gotta love it that someone with the last name "Cruz" is a neo nazi wannabe
4
That was an unbelievably thorough article. I had forgotten what real journalism looked like.
104The Texas Observer is maybe the best paper in the State.
41I’m always glad to see fellow Texans who give a shit, this election’s voting map was even more depressing than I expected. I’ll have to keep an eye on this paper
11I hope you Texans subscribe if you can afford to.
3
Credit where due. Nice work.
20
Cyan Cruz 14008 Echo Ln Austin, TX 78732
Make Nazis afraid again
3514008 Echo Ln Austin
14∞8 🤔
9I highly doubt he chose his house based on Nazi dog whistle numbers 😂 maybe....
7
These accounts have drawn the attention of conservative commentators, activists, and even elected officials. The X account belonging to Republican U.S. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky follows three of the four neo-Nazi accounts, while the account belonging to GOP Arizona state Senator Wendy Rogers follows two. The account belonging to Sebastian Gorka, former and future deputy assistant to Donald Trump, follows 9mm_smg, and the account belonging to Chuck DeVore, an executive at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, has retweeted one of 9mm_smg’s posts.
35I'll give you one more for free: Elon Musk
34If you want to spew fascist talking points at least have the courage to do it openly. Deal with the social consequences instead of hiding like cowards. At least these four can't hide behind their digital white hoods anymore. Expose them all.
16Now this is some real fucking journalism. 👏👏👏
13Hopefully these people do not have jobs much longer. I can't imagine JP Morgan wants to be seen as having a neo Nazi as one of their VPs.
10More exposure of accounts like this, please.
4