In an age where money seems to rule everything, billionaire Elon Musk stands out for his net worth, but also for his influence on the U.S. government and, by extension, the world.
The danger is not just that Musk holds sway in government affairs; it’s that his private interests and erratic behavior impact global policy decisions in undemocratic and dangerous ways.
Governments worldwide have grown dependent on Musk’s companies, particularly SpaceX. NASA and the Pentagon rely on his rockets, and the Ukrainian military used to rely on his satellites. This gives Musk leverage.
He’s used it to pretend he’s a global diplomat, proposing “peace plans” for Ukraine that suspiciously align with Russian interests, and cutting off Starlink services in active combat zones. It is utterly inappropriate for one man to hold that much power in matters of war and peace.
Musk’s ideology is also slippery and hypocritical. He’s previously called the U.S. government’s regulation heavy-handed while simultaneously benefiting from government contracts and subsidies.
His stance on free speech seems driven more by ego than principle, as seen in his management of X (formerly Twitter), where hate speech and misinformation have flourished under the banner of “free expression.” The app reeks of neo-Nazi rhetoric and constant racism, which isn’t surprising, as Musk himself threw up his arm in a manner very reminiscent of the Nazi salute.
At the heart of the issue is a lack of democratic oversight. Musk was never elected, but acts like he was. During the 2024 presidential election, Musk donated $288 million to the Trump campaign. Under Trump’s administration, Musk is not subject to the checks and balances that constrain public officials, yet he can alter aid agencies, advise heads of state and change the global communications landscape with a tweet. His influence is a systemic failure of governments to ensure public interests are not subordinated to private entities.
In a democracy, power should come with accountability. Musk has a lot of power but very little accountability or legitimacy. Until that changes, his influence will remain a danger to the American people and the world.
