--- title: "Julian Assange returns to X with 'I'm back' post" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/julian-assange-returns-to-x-with-im-back-post" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/julian-assange-returns-to-x-with-im-back-post" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/julian-assange-returns-to-x-with-im-back-post.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/julian-assange-returns-to-x-with-im-back-post" category: "Media" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-17T17:05:18.083Z" source_reported: "2026-09-17T16:33:48.298Z" updated: "2026-09-17T17:05:18.083Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 59 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-17T17:00:16.960620+00:00" --- # Julian Assange returns to X with 'I'm back' post *WikiLeaks founder reappeared on social media after more than two years of silence.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to WikiLeaks handle; two independent outlets published full reports. - Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. Reports include background on Assange's legal case and WikiLeaks' history. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use phrases like 'Revelations Await' and 'AI Crisis' to create anticipation. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Julian Assange returned to X on September 17, 2026, posting 'I'm back'. - He had been absent from the platform since June 28, 2024. - Assange posted a photo from Sydney, Australia. - His wife, Stella Assange, has indicated more news will follow. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, reappeared on the social media platform X on September 17, 2026, posting the message "I'm back." The post included a photograph of Assange taken in Sydney, Australia. This marks his first activity on the platform since June 28, 2024. Assange had been absent from X following his release from prison in June 2024, after reaching a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. He had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified national defence documents. The sentence he received was time already served. His wife, Stella Assange, has stated that further information will be provided next week. ## Disagreements in reporting The Hindustan Times reported that Assange was 55 years old at the time of his return to X. IBTimes UK stated he was 55 years old. However, the Hindustan Times also stated he was 62 years old when discussing his plea deal and sentencing. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific date Julian Assange was absent from X prior to his return, only stating it was 'more than two years'. The centre-rated Hindustan Times report states he was absent since June 28, 2024. The right-rated Latestly digest also states he kept a low profile following his June 2024 release. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (4) - Centre: 16% (1) - Right: 17% (1) 4 of 10 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-17T17:00:16.960620+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-17T17:45:22.147Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Reports from the left-rated outlets IBTimes UK, Outlook India, Consortiumnews, and SWI swissinfo.ch focused on Assange's return to X after more than two years. They highlighted his "I'm back" message and the accompanying photo from Sydney. These reports also detailed his release from prison in June 2024 following a plea deal with the US Department of Justice, and his subsequent return to Australia. IBTimes UK noted the post attracted 2.3 million views within hours and discussed the varied reactions it generated, including questions about his future intentions and initial confusion over the account's authenticity. Consortiumnews mentioned his return occurred as the "AI crisis dominates the headlines." ### Centre - The centre-rated Hindustan Times report led with Julian Assange's return to X after more than two years, featuring his "I'm back" message and a photo from Sydney. It detailed his June 2024 release from prison after a plea deal with the US Department of Justice, noting he had served his sentence. The report mentioned his return to Australia and living with his family. It also included background on his 2019 arrest in Britain and the US extradition request. The outlet also provided biographical details about the author of the report. ### Right - The right-rated Latestly digest reported Julian Assange's return to social media platform X with an 'I'm back' post, quoting a verified WikiLeaks announcement and mentioning a street photo in Australia. It noted his low profile since his June 2024 US plea deal and release to Australia after five years in Belmarsh prison, and stated no further plans had been announced. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 3 - high: 1 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Outlook India](https://outlookindia.com/international/who-is-julian-assange-wikileaks-founder-says-im-back-on-x) — Who Is Julian Assange? WikiLeaks Founder Says ‘I’m Back’ On X - [Aristegui Noticias](https://aristeguinoticias.com/1709/mundo/im-back-julian-assange-vuelve-a-su-cuenta-de-x-despues-de-mas-de-dos-anos) — 'I ́M Back': Julian Assange Returns to His X Account After More than Two Years - [Consortiumnews](https://consortiumnews.com/2026/09/17/assange-returns-to-x-in-midst-of-ai-crisis) — Assange Returns to X in Midst of AI Crisis - [El Progreso de Lugo](https://elprogreso.es/articulo/mundo/julian-assange-reaparece-red-social-x-mas-dos-anos-silencio-he-vuelto/202609171818411999046.html) — Julian Assange Reappears on Social Network X After More than Two Years of Silence: "I'm Back" - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/julian-assange-announces-return-to-x-twitter-after-2-years-with-a-photo-from-sydney-im-back-101789660309783.html) — Julian Assange announces return to X after 2 years with a photo from Sydney; ‘I'm back’ - [Unknown](https://agonaskritis.gr/%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%AD%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%88%CE%B1-%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%B6%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%B6-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%AD%CF%86) — "I'm Back!": Julian Assange Returns to X After Two-Year Absence - Revelations Await - [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/julian-assange-im-back-x-post-sydney-wikileaks-1820415) — 'I'm Back': Julian Assange Returns to X After More Than Two Years With New Sydney Photo - [SWI swissinfo.ch](https://swissinfo.ch/spa/julian-assange-vuelve-a-su-cuenta-de-x-despu%c3%a9s-de-m%c3%a1s-de-dos-a%c3%b1os%3a-%22i%27m-back%22/92077391) — Julian Assange Returns to His X Account After More than Two Years: "I'm Back" - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/world/julian-assange-returns-to-social-media-wikileaks-founder-posts-im-back-on-x-7608733.html) — Julian Assange Returns to Social Media; WikiLeaks Founder Posts 'I'm Back' on X | 🌎 LatestLY - [Life.ru](https://life.ru/p/assanzh-vpervye-s-2024-goda-vylozhil-post-v-x-i-zayavil-chto-vernulsya) — Assange Posted His Post to X for the First Time Since 2024 and Claimed to Have Returned ## Questions **When did Julian Assange return to X?** Julian Assange returned to X on September 17, 2026. He posted a message stating 'I'm back' and a photo from Sydney, Australia, marking his first activity on the platform since June 28, 2024. **Why was Julian Assange released from prison?** Julian Assange was released from prison in June 2024 after reaching a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified national defence documents and received a sentence of time already served. **What did Julian Assange post upon his return to X?** Upon his return to X on September 17, 2026, Julian Assange posted the message 'I'm back.' He also shared a photograph of himself taken in Sydney, Australia. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/julian-assange-returns-to-x-with-im-back-post. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Julian Assange returns to X with 'I'm back' post", https://mediabias.news/media/julian-assange-returns-to-x-with-im-back-post