Who Have We Just Elected?
Hold on a moment—who exactly did we just elect? The Republican candidates were led by Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, but during this tumultuous November, it often felt like an unexpected force was directing the course of our future.
We recognize him from a variety of prominent roles—the entrepreneur who took over Twitter and drastically reduced its workforce, the innovator who breathed new life into the space sector, and the car industry titan whose revolutionary trucks turn heads wherever they go. All of a sudden, Elon Musk has emerged as a political player, rallying crowds, influencing key government appointments, and crafting the agenda for the incoming President.
For more than three years, Musk has ranked among the world’s wealthiest and most influential individuals. His tweets can cause market fluctuations, astronauts trust his spacecraft, and military operations rely on data from his satellites. Conspiracy theories gain traction with his backing. Yet, it was during this election cycle that we truly witnessed the extent of his influence.
Not since the era of William Randolph Hearst, the media mogul vital to FDR’s ascent nearly a century ago, has a private individual exerted such a far-reaching influence across the realms of American life—culture, media, economy, and now politics. Even Trump seems somewhat in awe, appearing more as a collaborator than a leader next to someone whose ambitions know no bounds.
For the moment, they appear to be working together, driven by shared interests and a mutual desire to disrupt the status quo. They may seem to be on the same page for now, but their goals may not always align perfectly. Both are strong-willed and accustomed to being at the helm. What could happen if their visions begin to diverge?
In such an event, Musk could find himself in a precarious position. History is replete with examples of kingmakers who fell out with the leaders they helped elevate. Regardless of Musk’s fortune or influence, the machinery of governmental power resides firmly with the President, and things could spiral into chaos if he opts to exert that power against the billionaire who helped propel him back to the White House.
Ultimately, the longevity of their alliance may depend on Musk’s true motivations: What drove him to support the MAGA movement? If he was primarily seeking financial gain, he has undoubtedly achieved that goal.
In the week after the election, his net worth surged by over $50 billion, topping more than $320 billion, as investors rushed to buy Tesla shares. Yet, monetary success has never been Musk’s only passion. His willingness to invest in grand ambitions, such as establishing a greenhouse on Mars, suggests he envisions a future far removed from the typical goals of a business mogul.
Read more: Why Elon Musk Was Person of the Year for 2021
Those close to Musk assert that his ultimate focus has remained unchanged since the inception of SpaceX in 2002. (Notably, among its investors are Marc and Lynne Benioff, owners of TIME.) Musk’s obsession with Mars has been evident for over twenty years, as showcased on his favorite T-shirt: OCCUPY MARS. “Everything revolves around that mission,” a close associate stated after discussing Musk’s vision with him. “He realizes that having direct or indirect control over U.S. government budgets will accelerate our journey to Mars in his lifetime. Going the private route would take much longer.”
This does not imply that American taxpayers will foot the bill for Musk’s interplanetary ambitions. Yet, the public often pays the price when unconventional visionaries assume control of governance. Millions of Americans—retired factory workers, burdened graduates, and infants—rely on social programs that Musk has indicated he intends to trim. Despite tweeting to his 205 million followers, Musk has avoided answering questions from journalists, including inquiries about his reported interactions with foreign governments like China, Russia, and Iran. He has also not addressed the potential conflicts of interest from his influential role in a government scrutinizing his businesses.
So far, Trump seems inclined to indulge him. During his victory speech on November 6, he spent several moments praising Musk, the “super genius” who propelled his campaign in Pennsylvania, reportedly paying canvassers to cover 11 million doors and coordinating transport for Amish voters to the polls. “We have a new star,” Trump proclaimed from the stage in Florida. “A star is born—Elon!” It wasn’t until nearly 19 minutes into his speech that the President-elect returned to his notes and remembered to thank his supporters.
Musk’s Symbolism
Musk’s importance to the Trump campaign went beyond the $120 million he contributed, the grassroots initiatives he launched, and the social media momentum he generated. For many young men who rallied to Trump in unprecedented numbers, Musk represented an ideal. He injected a sense of creativity and opportunity into a campaign anchored in nostalgia. While Trump energizes his supporters with promises to dismantle corrupt institutions, Musk embodies the potential for innovation and problem-solving. With Musk at his side, Trump appeared less outdated at his rallies, making it harder for critics to dismiss him as surrounded by ineptness when the most innovative force of our time committed to cutting $2 trillion from the budget.
Haiyun Jiang—The New York Times/Redux
No matter how often Democrats highlighted Trump’s wealth as stemming from inheritance and corporate blunders, they couldn’t dispute Musk’s credentials as a businessman. Even Senator Bernie Sanders, a billionaire critic, softened his tone in a recent podcast: “Elon Musk is an exceptionally aggressive and capable entrepreneur, impressive in what he has achieved. He claims he could accomplish more in a week than the government can in five years, and in some instances, he’s right.”
In an era where trust in government is declining, many voters are seeking a capable outsider—ruthless and independent—who can streamline a sprawling bureaucratic system. Musk’s commitment to achieving just that has fostered momentum for cost-cutting measures not seen in Washington for years. This agenda faced challenges during Trump’s initial term, given the millions reliant on government jobs and the regulatory protections that shield against the exploitative practices contributing to issues like opioid addiction. Still, small-government Republicans are eager to follow Musk into contentious budget discussions regarding federal waste and excessive entitlements, and many Americans are likely to back them.
Throughout his campaign, Musk’s most compelling arguments weren’t made on Joe Rogan’s podcast or at Trump’s rallies. Rather, they were presented at the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, where Musk’s aerospace company wowed audiences by catching a returning rocket with robotic arms. If the man who achieved that fervently supports Trump, could Trump not fulfill at least some of his promises?
Read more: What Elon Musk Really Believes
Many voters seem to think so, especially the young men Musk aimed to reach for Trump with his assertiveness. “The biggest factor here is that men need to vote,” Musk told Rogan just before the election. The following day, after 60% of white men supported Trump, Musk tweeted: “The cavalry has arrived.” However, his influence was not confined to the male demographic. He also resonated with voters who were put off by Trump’s character but intrigued by his policies. Political analysts noted that these individuals required a “permission structure”; Musk provided that reassurance to suburban women like Betsy Stecz. As she waited in line for his October rally in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Stecz expressed relief: “People are finally feeling they can hold their heads high and say: I’m not ashamed to vote for Donald Trump.” In her eyes, Musk was the reason.
Considering His Role
Given his impact on the campaign’s success, Musk likely anticipated some reward. However, his presence during Trump’s transition has reportedly caused unease among others in their circle. Throughout November, Musk spent significant time at Mar-a-Lago, advising on Cabinet picks and policy priorities. He joined the President-elect for golf outings, sat with him at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event, and even took photos with the Trump family, with one grandchild gushing online about Musk achieving “uncle status.” Musk jokingly referred to himself as “First Buddy.”
Kena Betancur—AFP/Getty Images
This might even be an understatement. Leaders from Turkey and Ukraine have reportedly had Musk eavesdropping on their discussions with Trump. An envoy from Iran, accused of plotting against Trump, allegedly met with Musk to discuss de-escalating tensions (though Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied this meeting). When House Republicans invited Trump to a closed session, Musk accompanied him, riding in a car labeled GUEST 1 in Trump’s motorcade.
Read more: Iran, Trump, and the Third Assassination Plot
At that point, Trump appointed Musk to lead a new initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency. Its acronym, DOGE, humorously references the popular cryptocurrency Musk has endorsed. Yet the department’s mission is serious. Trump claimed it would “dismantle” the federal bureaucracy and “restructure” its agencies. “This will send shock waves through the system,” Musk asserted.
This could also grant Musk influence over the various agencies that regulate his businesses. Just weeks before the election, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an investigation into Tesla’s autonomous vehicles following incidents involving crashes. Additionally, California regulators have ordered Tesla to address ongoing air quality violations at its Fremont facility. Tesla maintains that its vehicles are safe and that its operations comply with environmental regulations. SpaceX has also faced challenges with the Federal Aviation Administration, which Musk threatened to sue for perceived overreach in September. A New York Times investigation revealed that his companies are currently involved in at least 20 regulatory disputes and investigations by different government entities. Musk and his representatives have declined to comment or respond to TIME’s inquiries about potential conflicts of interest.
He has yet to clarify the guiding principles for his plan to overhaul the bureaucracy. The co-director of DOGE, Vivek Ramaswamy, campaigned on a pro-business, libertarian platform during the last Republican primary. Musk’s political stance, however, is more elusive. This past summer, he described himself as “historically, a moderate Democrat.” He has labeled climate change as the most pressing challenge of our time. When Barack Obama was running for President in 2008, Musk stood in line for six hours just to shake his hand.
His relationship with Trump has often been tumultuous. Their views on tariffs differ significantly, and Musk resigned from his advisory role in the White House after less than six months in 2017, protesting Trump’s climate policies. Five years later, Musk suggested it was time for Trump to “sail into the sunset,” provoking a furious reply from Trump: “Elon should focus on extricating himself from the Twitter situation, as he might owe $44 billion for something that’s perhaps worthless.”
Trump’s Insight
Trump had a point. Musk’s acquisition of Twitter appeared to lack clear business rationale. He paid at least double the company’s value in 2022, subsequently undermining its revenue streams and laying off a significant portion of its workforce. Musk has claimed that the platform’s headcount fell from 8,000 to around 1,500 under his leadership. Some of his posts on the platform, now rebranded as X, seemed to contribute to corporate self-harm. One post referencing an antisemitic theory was later retracted (he eventually apologized). Another post propagated a conspiracy theory related to the hammer attack that left House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband hospitalized with a skull fracture. In response, numerous companies, including Microsoft and Coca-Cola, withdrew their advertising from the platform. “Don’t advertise,” he told them from the stage of a conference last fall. “If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f-ck yourself. Is that clear?” In October, Fidelity estimated that X had lost nearly 80% of its value over the past two years.
Musk, however, seemed unfazed. Even with a significantly reduced workforce, the platform continued to flourish, frequently appearing at the top of the most-downloaded news apps in the Apple App Store. Major advertisers have since returned. For some analysts, this situation is viewed as evidence of Musk’s adeptness in corporate turnaround. “What Elon accomplished with Twitter was getting in, cleaning house, and enhancing its functionality,” remarked an associate from Musk’s circle. “The hope is that he can replicate this success within the U.S. government.”
That is indeed a monumental challenge. Even fiscal conservatives have hesitated regarding Musk’s pledge to eliminate $2 trillion in federal spending. Achieving this would require drastic cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and other essential elements of the social safety net. Musk has warned the nation to prepare for a period of “temporary hardship” as these cuts unfold. Still, it remains unclear whether he possesses the authority to implement such changes. DOGE will operate outside of government, lacking the power to terminate federal employees. Many financial analysts predict it will follow the path of numerous advisory boards that have tried and failed to persuade politicians to curtail the programs their constituents cherish. The U.S. Congress already has the Government Accountability Office, tasked with identifying waste, fraud, and inefficiencies.
Many initial supporters of DOGE acknowledge its limitations yet celebrate it nonetheless. “Yes, a Department of Government Efficiency might be an unrealistic dream, akin to Monty Python’s Department of Silly Walks,” noted Wall Street Journal columnist Andy Kessler on November 17. “But even if Mr. Musk’s DOGE merely trims some excesses and saves a few hundred billion, that would be significant.”
Throughout his campaign, Musk emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to function “honestly” and “within its means.” However, if his social media platform is any indication, his objectives may be more ideologically driven than efficiency-focused. His reasoning for acquiring Twitter aligns with one of his core motivations for backing Trump: a desire to safeguard free speech in America. “Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy,” he told Joe Rogan just before the election. “Once you lose freedom of speech, you lose democracy. Game over. That’s why I bought Twitter.” Numerous reports and studies have suggested that under his leadership, the platform has devolved into a haven for hateful and harmful content, partly due to his decision to dismantle its content moderation team.
Read more:Elon Musk and the Tech Bro Obsession With ‘Free Speech’
When discussing his political shift, Musk often cites the “woke mind virus,” a term he coined to describe what he sees as a leftward drift in American culture, which he believes has led to identity politics, cancel culture, and widespread online censorship. His grievances with these issues are deeply personal. During the pandemic, one of his children sought gender-affirming medical care, and Musk has stated he felt misled into consenting to it. His transgender daughter, now 20 and estranged from him, legally changed her name in 2022 to Vivian Jenna Wilson. In a podcast this past July, Musk declared that his child “is dead, killed by the woke mind virus. I vowed to eradicate the woke mind virus after that.”
Wilson responded the following day: “I look pretty good for a dead bitch.” On November 5, as the election results became clear, Wilson published another message: “Blame the f-cking politicians and oligarchs who caused this to happen,” she wrote. “Direct your anger towards them.”
Understanding Oligarchy
The term oligarkhia derives from ancient Greek, meaning “rule by the few.” Aristotle was its earliest critic; in the 4th century BCE, he depicted a scenario where “men of property have the government in their hands.” In medieval Venice, the leader of the ruling oligarchy served for life and held the same title Musk has chosen for his new department: the Doge.
Sacha Lecca—Rolling Stone/Getty Images
The most vivid example of this system in recent history emerged in Russia during the 1990s when a small number of businessmen seized control over the national economy during its turbulent shift to capitalism. This oligarchy is referred to as semibankirshchina—the reign of the seven bankers.
The most influential among them, Boris Berezovsky, utilized his media outlets to assist Putin in winning his first election in 2000, expecting to share in the spoils of power. Instead, their relationship deteriorated, leading to Berezovsky’s exile and the eventual seizure of his television network by the Russian state. Broke and isolated, he died in 2013 at his mansion in the English countryside, with authorities ruling it a suicide. Today, his former media channel disseminates the Kremlin’s narrative.
One of Berezovsky’s close associates, Alex Goldfarb, now residing in New Jersey, observes the partnership between Musk and Trump with a mix of familiarity and concern. “It appears an oligarchy is taking shape here as well,” he notes. “During Putin’s early years, oligarchs fought the state tooth and nail. Here, it seems we have two oligarchs, Musk and Trump, collaborating to seize control of the state.”
The outcome may depend on how this new duo interacts with the institutions they are set to govern. If their goal is to refine these entities into more efficient and effective tools of governance, the public could benefit from a system that has long been hampered by bureaucratic inefficiency. However, Trump has also wielded these tools similarly to Putin in Russia—favoring his allies while sidelining his adversaries.
Musk stands to gain immensely from this arrangement. If he remains in the role of First Buddy, he can expect a smoother relationship with the regulators Trump appoints throughout the government. His most direct path to Mars could consequently run straight through the Oval Office. Yet aside from witnessing the spectacle of his own success, what tangible benefits will trickle down to average Americans?
The institutions responsible for providing healthcare, ensuring clean water, and educating future generations were never designed to function as profit-driven entities. Their value is profound, especially for those least able to afford it. If Musk’s drive for efficiency results in substantial cuts to these vital services, the repercussions could be severe for those who rely on government assistance. For them, the fallout may be anything but temporary, and none of Musk’s promises of a Martian utopia will alleviate their current struggles.
—With reporting by Eric Cortellessa/Lancaster and Leslie Dickstein/New York
