Musk & Trump: Merger of Money and Politics
Musk & Trump: Merger of Money and Politics
The potential advisory role for Musk and the efforts to subvert the democratic process through the use of wealth and influence are deeply troubling developments that deserve closer scrutiny.
The Facts:
Former President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have been in discussions about a potential advisory role for Musk in Trump's administration, should the Republican nominee reclaim the White House. The two men have had a frosty relationship in the past, but in recent months, they have developed a friendly rapport and have been in regular contact, speaking on the phone several times a month.
The potential advisory role for Musk has not been fully defined, but it is understood that they have discussed ways to give the billionaire influence over policies related to border security and the economy, both of which are issues that Musk has become more vocal about.
Musk and the billionaire investor Nelson Peltz have also briefed Trump on a plan they have developed to invest in a data-driven project aimed at preventing voter fraud, echoing Trump's unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
Musk and Peltz have been working to organize an influence campaign among elite business leaders across the country, attempting to convince them not to support President Biden's re-election bid. The two men hosted a secret dinner in Los Angeles, attended by the likes of Peter Thiel, Steven Mnuchin, and Rupert Murdoch, to discuss how they could provide funding to Trump outside of public view.
Musk has also expressed concerns about the "woke mind virus," a term he uses to refer to liberal policies such as diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which he believes are creating divisions in society. The discussion around the potential advisory role and the voter fraud project took place during a March gathering at Peltz's estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump, Musk, and Peltz held forth on the upcoming November elections and criticized Biden's leadership.
The potential advisory role for Musk would likely be similar to the one previously held by Isaac Perlmutter, the former Marvel chairman, who served in an advisory capacity at the Department of Veterans Affairs during Trump's presidency. Musk has served on White House business advisory groups in the past but resigned in 2017 after disagreeing with Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord.
In addition to the potential advisory role, Musk and Trump have discussed various business interests, including Tesla, the electric vehicle maker, which has seen its share price fall and recently recorded its lowest profit in years. Musk has also asked Trump to return to posting more actively on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, especially using the "Spaces" live audio feature, which Trump used extensively when the platform was known as Twitter.
The View:
The potential advisory role for Elon Musk in a future Trump administration is a troubling development that raises significant concerns about the influence of wealthy and powerful individuals in the political process. Trump's eagerness to bring Musk into his orbit, despite their previously frosty relationship, suggests a concerning tendency to prioritize the interests of the billionaire class over the well-being of the American people.
The fact that Musk and Peltz have been working to convince elite business leaders to reject Biden's re-election campaign is particularly alarming, as it demonstrates a blatant attempt to subvert the democratic process through the use of wealth and influence. The notion that Musk and Peltz are developing a "data-driven project" to combat voter fraud is equally concerning, as it appears to be yet another effort to perpetuate the false narrative of widespread election fraud that has been debunked by Trump's own attorney general.
Moreover, the potential advisory role for Musk raises questions about the ethics and conflicts of interest that could arise from such an arrangement. Musk's business interests, including Tesla and SpaceX, could significantly benefit from the implementation of policies that align with his personal and political views, which would undermine the impartiality and integrity of the democratic process.
The involvement of wealthy and powerful individuals in the political process, particularly in an advisory capacity, is a dangerous trend that must be closely scrutinized and challenged. The American people deserve a government that is accountable to their needs and not beholden to the interests of the elite few. There should be a greater transparency, accountability, and a commitment to upholding the principles of democracy in the 2024 election and beyond.
TLDR:
Discussions between Trump and Musk about a potential advisory role for Musk in a future Trump administration
Musk and investor Nelson Peltz are working to organize an influence campaign among elite business leaders to prevent Biden's re-election
Musk and Peltz are developing a plan to invest in a data-driven project aimed at preventing voter fraud, echoing Trump's unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election
Musk has expressed concerns about the "woke mind virus," which he believes is creating divisions in society
The potential advisory role for Musk raises concerns about ethics and conflicts of interest, as his business interests could significantly benefit from the implementation of policies that align with his personal and political views
The involvement of wealthy and powerful individuals in the political process, particularly in an advisory capacity, is a dangerous trend that must be closely scrutinized and challenged
Insights From
Inside Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Growing Alliance - The Wall Street Journal
Trump ‘considering role for Elon Musk in his administration’ - The Telegraph