ByGandhinagar: Elon Musk, once known for his tech ventures and eccentric personality, has increasingly become a force to be reckoned with in the realm of global politics. In the latest episode of The Guardian’s “Today in Focus,” podcast dissects this transformation, highlighting Musk’s radicalization, his strategic acquisition of Twitter (now X), and his alarming influence on political landscapes, particularly in the US and the UK.
Elon Musk’s recent interventions in British politics, particularly his commentary on the issue of grooming gangs, have drawn significant attention and criticism.
Musk’s actions highlight his growing political ambitions and his willingness to use his platform to influence global politics. In the latest podcast episode “How Elon Musk was radicalized and what the rest of us can do about it,” by The Guardian, Michael Safi interviews James Ball, an author and journalist specializing in misinformation. Ball has extensively studied Elon Musk, particularly his increasing involvement in politics.
Early Signs of Provocation and a Shift in Allegiance:
Elon Musk’s political views have shifted from liberal to more right-leaning over the past few years. According to James Ball, the journalist interviewed in the podcast, who has followed Musk’s career, Musk’s political radicalization began about two to three years ago when he felt that the Democratic party was no longer the party of kindness and had become too fixated on trans issues. Musk began to engage in online arguments with his fans, who are predominantly young, right-leaning men. As his fan base became more radical, so did Musk’s views.
Ball argues that Musk’s purchase of Twitter, now known as X, has played a significant role in his radicalization. Despite being a financially disastrous acquisition, the platform has given Musk a powerful tool for political influence. He can now control the news agenda and push his opinions to a large audience of 200 million followers. This influence has emboldened Musk to participate more directly in politics, including endorsing Donald Trump in the 2020 US presidential election.
Musk’s radicalization is further fueled by his volatile personality and his reliance on investors rather than customers, which makes him more susceptible to the whims of his fan base. Ball notes that Musk’s use of ketamine, admitted by Musk himself, to manage his mood, combined with his lack of sleep and constant engagement in online debates, may contribute to his erratic behavior.
Ball emphasizes that Musk’s actions are not just a matter of online trolling but pose a real threat to democracy. He argues that political leaders need to take Musk’s influence seriously and engage with him as a political threat, rather than dismissing him as a mere internet troll.
Twitter: From Financial Mishap to Political Weapon:
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022, initially perceived as a financially disastrous move, has since been reinterpreted as a calculated strategy for political influence. Driven by his staunch belief in free speech, Musk invested $44 billion in the platform, losing billions in the process. However, his motivation seemed to extend beyond free speech, as his actions on the platform increasingly aligned with the MAGA movement.
The podcast suggests that Musk’s purchase of Twitter might have been driven, at least in part, by the potential financial gains associated with a Trump presidency. His net worth surged by an estimated $80 billion when Trump previously won the presidency, with Tesla stocks rallying in anticipation of Musk’s potential ascendance under a Trump administration. This financial incentive, coupled with his radicalization, could explain his heavy investment in Trump, including endorsements, rally appearances, and substantial donations to the Trump campaign.
X: A One-Man Broadcast Channel for Political Manipulation:
Musk’s transformation of Twitter into X, a platform seemingly tailored to his own opinions and agenda, has further cemented his political influence. Despite X’s declining relevance as a social network, Musk’s control over its rules and his massive follower count (200 million) effectively allow him to control the news agenda by amplifying narratives that align with his views.
Examples of this manipulation include the platform’s algorithm, which at one point simply boosted Musk’s own posts. When President Biden received more likes for a tweet on a topic similar to one Musk had tweeted about, Musk demanded a change to the algorithm, resulting in his posts being manually boosted by engineers.
Musk utilizes his prolific posting habits on X to dominate online conversations and shape public perception. He leverages his control over the platform’s algorithms to ensure his posts reach a wider audience. By flooding the platform with his opinions and manipulating its mechanics, he effectively steers discussions towards his desired narrative.
- Strategic Acquisition and Transformation of Twitter: Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, was initially seen as a financial misstep. However, it has evolved into a powerful tool for political influence. Musk reshaped the platform to serve as his personal broadcast channel, allowing him to control the news agenda and amplify his opinions to his massive following. Despite losing financial value, X has become instrumental in advancing his political ambitions.
- Direct Intervention and Financial Backing in Political Campaigns: Musk actively participates in political campaigns, endorsing candidates, speaking at rallies, and providing substantial financial contributions. His endorsement of Donald Trump during the US presidential election and his offer of a significant donation to the UK’s Reform Party demonstrate his willingness to directly impact political outcomes.
- Exploitation of Controversial Issues and Alignment with Far-Right Talking Points: Musk strategically engages with contentious topics, often echoing far-right narratives, to garner attention and advance his agenda. His involvement in debates surrounding grooming gangs, immigration, and censorship exemplifies this tactic. By amplifying divisive issues, he attracts a specific audience and fuels political polarization.
- Manipulation of Public Discourse through Prolific Posting and Algorithm Control: Musk utilizes his prolific posting habits on X to dominate online conversations and shape public perception. He leverages his control over the platform’s algorithms to ensure his posts reach a wider audience. By flooding the platform with his opinions and manipulating its mechanics, he effectively steers discussions towards his desired narrative.
Cultivation of a Devoted Online Fan Base: Musk has cultivated a loyal online following that amplifies his messages and defends his actions. His fan base, characterized as predominantly young, male, and right-leaning, provides him with a robust support system, shielding him from criticism and bolstering his political maneuvers.
Direct Intervention in US Politics:
Musk’s political involvement has gone beyond mere commentary, evolving into direct participation in US politics, particularly during the last presidential election. He endorsed Trump, spoke at rallies, donated millions to the Trump campaign, and even hosted events where he distributed million-dollar checks to individuals who pledged to vote for Trump. These actions demonstrate his willingness to use his wealth and influence to directly impact the political landscape.
His interference in the debate over a bill to prevent a US government shutdown further exemplifies his direct political involvement. Musk, without offering any alternative plan, attacked the deal and any Republicans who supported it, almost leading to a government shutdown. This episode highlights his tendency to disrupt the political process without offering constructive solutions.
Exploiting the UK Political Landscape:
Despite his limited connection to the UK, Musk has fixated on British politics, particularly targeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and expressing support for the far-right Reform Party. His intervention in UK politics began with his support for the far-right riots during the summer, framing them as a free speech issue. He also defended Tommy Robinson, a far-right figure imprisoned for contempt of court after repeatedly spreading false information about a Syrian refugee.
Musk’s support for Robinson, despite the clear evidence of his wrongdoing, underscores his willingness to promote narratives that align with his own agenda, regardless of their factual basis. His portrayal of the UK as a bastion of censorship, a narrative popular among his right-leaning fanbase, serves his broader political aims while further demonstrating his disregard for factual accuracy.
Grooming Gangs Controversy
- Musk waded into the sensitive issue of grooming gangs in the UK by voicing support for Tommy Robinson, a far-right figure imprisoned for contempt of court. Robinson had spread false information about a Syrian refugee involved in a school incident.
- Musk’s portrayal of Robinson as a victim of censorship and a champion of free speech is a dangerous distortion of the facts. Robinson was jailed for repeatedly violating court orders and jeopardizing a criminal investigation.
- Musk’s simplistic and inaccurate take on the complex issue of grooming gangs has fueled existing tensions and emboldened far-right elements. He has effectively weaponized a serious social problem to advance his political agenda.
A Potential Kingmaker in UK Politics:
Musk’s brief but impactful involvement with the Reform Party, particularly his rumored £80 million donation, illustrates his potential to significantly reshape the UK political landscape. This potential donation, a sum unheard of in UK politics, could have propelled Reform into a major political force, potentially challenging both the Conservatives and Labour.
However, Musk’s subsequent falling out with Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, due to their disagreement over Tommy Robinson, underscores his impatience and impulsiveness in political matters. His willingness to abandon this potentially game-changing alliance for a fleeting news cycle highlights his erratic nature and lack of strategic foresight in navigating the complexities of politics.
The Dangers of Enabling Musk’s Political Agenda:
Despite his volatile and often counterproductive political interventions, Musk has found enablers within the British media and mainstream politicians who see potential in aligning themselves with his influence. These individuals, including figures like Robert Jenrick, risk legitimizing Musk’s extremist views and normalizing his dangerous rhetoric.
The podcast warns that while Musk’s unpredictable nature may eventually lead him to move on from his current political obsessions, the damage inflicted by his enablers will have lasting consequences. Their attempts to exploit his influence for their own gain will likely backfire, leaving them to deal with the fallout of his reckless actions.
Concerns Among Other Billionaires
- Musk’s overt political maneuvering is causing unease among other billionaires, who typically prefer to exert their influence through more discreet means. They are concerned that his brash tactics may attract unwanted scrutiny and jeopardize their own established networks of power.
- Musk’s actions are a departure from the traditional approach of wealthy individuals using their resources to influence politics behind the scenes. His willingness to operate openly may force other billionaires to adapt their strategies or risk exposure.
Confronting the Musk Threat: A Call for Action:
The episode concludes by emphasizing the need to recognize and confront Musk’s political influence, urging politicians to treat him as a genuine political threat. Ignoring him, as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attempted, only emboldens his actions and allows his influence to grow unchecked.
The podcast suggests these potential strategies for governments to effectively counter Musk’s political actions:
Highlighting the dangers of enabling Musk: Many politicians and commentators seek to exploit Musk’s influence for their own gain, legitimizing and amplifying his harmful rhetoric. It’s crucial to expose the dangers of enabling Musk and emphasize the potential negative consequences of aligning with him.
Direct engagement and treating him as a political threat: Ignoring Musk is not a viable option, as his wealth and platform give him significant influence. Governments need to take him seriously, recognize him as a political threat, and respond accordingly. This could involve strategies similar to those used against other political threats, such as:
- Building coalitions to counter his influence.
- Coordinating actions to limit his impact.
- Identifying and exploiting his weaknesses.
Publicly challenging his narratives and misinformation: Musk frequently uses X to spread misinformation and promote his political agenda. Governments and political leaders should directly challenge his false claims and narratives, providing accurate information to the public.
Regulation and legislation: While changing speech laws in response to Musk’s actions would be excessive, governments can explore targeted regulations to address specific issues, such as:
Transparency in political donations and online influence: Requiring greater transparency in political spending and online campaigning could help limit Musk’s ability to exert undue influence through donations and social media manipulation.
Holding social media platforms accountable for misinformation: Governments could consider regulations that hold social media platforms accountable for the spread of misinformation, particularly when it comes from influential figures like Musk.
