In the final weeks before the US election, the richest man in the world has been involved in the campaign in a way unparalleled in modern history.
This involvement culminated when Elon Musk, who has recently settled in Pennsylvania to persuade one of the most undecided states to vote for Donald Trump, announced over the weekend that he would give away $1 million a day in the form of a lottery for those who register to vote – a move many experts have questioned as illegal.
But that’s not all: Musk has emerged as one of Trump’s biggest funders, to the tune of $75 million, while using his platform, X, to spread fake news and disinformation in favor of and against the Republican candidate. by Kamala Harris. At the same time, he conducts more and more frequent speeches and events, constantly wearing a “MAGA” hat. “He plays everything for everything” comments the “Financial Times” indicatively.
So one would reasonably wonder why the richest man in the world, who until a year ago was supporting Ron DeSandis for the Republican candidate, is now investing a huge part of his fortune, his brand name, his time and his energy to elect Donald Trump?
An important player
Already, under the administration of Joe Biden, Musk’s influence in the federal government is enormous and extremely profitable for him. Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, essentially defines NASA’s rocket launch program. The US Department of Defense also relies on it to put most of its satellites into orbit and to supply communications networks for the military, with its companies expected to receive $3 billion from nearly 100 different contracts signed last year alone with 17 different federal agencies.
Of course, his entanglements with federal regulators are also many and conflicting. His companies have been targeted in at least 20 recent investigations or reviews, including the safety of Tesla cars and the environmental damage caused by SpaceX rockets.
So it’s obvious, given Musk’s huge business footprint, that the tycoon will be a major player in the next US administration as well, regardless of who wins the election.
Musk’s benefits and risk
Nevertheless, he himself, as he admitted in a recent interview, decided to bet everything on the Republican former president, whom “The Atlantic” magazine describes as Musk’s “Trojan horse”.
That’s because, in exchange for his massive support, Trump promised to make him head of a new “government efficiency commission,” which would be able to push through sweeping cuts to federal agencies and changes to federal rules.
That would essentially give Musk, the world’s richest man and a major “government contractor,” the power to regulate the regulators that impose controls on his companies — which, of course, amounts to a potentially huge conflict of interest.
With his government contracts—and insider influence—Musk will become even more involved in national security. At the same time, at a time when – every – government is called upon to make increasingly critical decisions about the future of artificial intelligence, its use and commercialization, his ideas will dominate.
In fact, if he follows the example set by Trump, Musk won’t even have to divest from his businesses, or even from X, to take on his new roles. This is why “The Atlantic” explains that “in an administration that defiantly disrespects its critics, it will not have to fear congressional oversight and could sideline anyone who dares to question its role.”
Of all the dangers of a second Trump term, this may be one of the scariest.
#Musk #Donald #Trump
