[frio]

It's intent of action vs. actual action.

Elon may not be _intending_ to pay foreigners to cosplay as patriotic Americans.

However, X pays people based on engagement. A number of people outside the USA have figured out that if they post outrageous shit to Americans, they get engagement -- and therefore earn money. So in fact, Elon _is_ paying foreigners to cosplay as Americans, but it might not have been what he meant to do.