Donald Trump has just announced that if elected, he would entrust Elon Musk with leading a comprehensive audit of the entire US government. Given the chainsaw massacre he went through when he bought Twitter, such an announcement is cause for concern.
But beyond Trump’s decision, it is becoming increasingly clear that Musk has political ambitions. He cannot become president of the United States, since he was not born there. However, he is increasingly gaining ground not only on the American scene, but also internationally. Musk is served by his fortune of around 200 billion dollars. While super-billionaires are generally discreet, he does not hesitate to place himself in the spotlight. His craziest ideas are received with respect because he is extremely rich. But the man is politically dangerous.
1) Who is Elon Musk?
Musk, 53, is a complex character. He has a dual university education in physics and economics. In the primary and secondary school he founded, Astra Nova, neither music nor foreign languages are taught. But it is generously open to all. Musk is said to suffer from Asperger’s syndrome, which would explain some of his social awkwardness. All the same, he has given some of his 12 children bizarre names (Y, AE A-Xii). He has a great ability to find investors for projects that are the stuff of dreams, but which have very little chance of materializing in his lifetime, such as the colonization of Mars, or which are loss-making, such as his sealed tunnels for vacuum trains (hyperloop). His leadership of the Tesla company is his greatest financial success. Politically, Musk is identified as a very right-wing activist.
2) Why shouldn’t Musk audit the US government?
Managing a private company is completely different from managing a public organization. The ultimate goal of a private company is always to make a profit. Public organizations do not necessarily have this goal. Would you see a fire station trying to make a profit? (Yes, I know, some ultra-liberal theorists believe that this is possible). Should the public education system make a profit? The Department of Transportation? The Department of the Environment? Of course not. If these organizations did, they would threaten the prosperity of the entire community. However, Musk does not understand this logic. Worse, he imposes an extremely centralized management mode on his companies. This can only lead to disaster in the United States.
3) What about X and the suspension of this company in Brazil?
Musk confuses freedom of individual expression, in restricted circles, with freedom of expression in public. For example, badmouthing someone in public without proof can lead to defamation suits, but doing so at home with your family generally does not have consequences. It is the same in X. Intentionally disseminated false information has an immense reach. Hence the need, at the very least, to clearly flag it or remove it. Musk refuses to do so, as the Brazilian government demands. And X is not above the law.
4) What is Musk looking for?
Musk’s political exposure is very risky for his companies because it could deprive him of part of his customer base. It is likely that Musk now has other ambitions than money.
