Billionaire Elon Musk’s importance in US politics cannot be denied as he is getting closer to US President-elect Donald Trump. Musk has been largely credited with Trump’s victory in the recent election, which saw the defeat of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Her support for Trump goes beyond broadcasting to her 208 million followers on her social media platform X. He also donated $277 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates.
However, Musk has not played the role of kingmaker. Last week, the Financial Times It was reported that the billionaire was considering donating to Reform UK, a right-wing political party founded by Nigel Farage. A rallying voice behind Brexit, Farage shares ideological views with Trump, particularly his staunch anti-immigrant stance.
Farage is one of a growing list of popular right-wingers that Musk has courted recently. A photo of Farage and his party treasurer, Nick Candy, with Musk at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence has stirred British politics. speaking with FTCandy said on Sunday that the party promises “a political disruption like we have never seen before”. He added that Musk was among other billionaires backing Reform UK.
The politics of Nigel Farage
Faraz managed to do it Win a parliamentary seat For the first time in the 2024 UK election. He had failed in seven previous attempts. However, over a two-decade career in the European Parliament, he has become an influential figure in UK politics. At the time, he used his position to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. In the 2024 election, Reform UK dealt a major blow to the Conservative Party, cutting its vote.
One of the main features of Farez’s party is its anti-immigrant stance. Farage has a clear plan. He advocated that the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights so that refugees could be deported. He wants to freeze “non-essential immigration”, stop international students from bringing families to Britain, and push back refugees who have arrived illegally by boat to escape war, conflict or poverty.
Farage also praised Trump’s para-government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency.DOGELed by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. He said their plan to evict large numbers of people was the blueprint Britain needed. The Guardian reported.
Musk, Trump and Farage have also often positioned themselves against “vocalism”. Musk publicly rallied against his transgender daughter in July, saying a “rabid brain virus” had killed his son. Similarly, Trump and Farage have spoken against the transgender community.
Yes!
pic.twitter.com/FJhC3Mlj6p— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 22, 2024
Musk supports the AfD
On Monday morning, Musk wrote on X, “Only the AfD can save Germany,” repeating himself Approval Far-right Alternative for Germany party. It comes as Germany heads for snap elections in February. The AfD won state elections in Thuringia in September, becoming the first far-right party to win the country since World War II.
Many have criticized Musk for endorsing a party that was labeled a suspected extremist group by a German court. AfD members are proponents of extreme nationalism and have challenged German guilt in the Holocaust. A senior party member was found guilty twice of using banned slogans associated with the Nazi regime in his speeches.
The AfD is strongly opposed to immigration and advocates for Germany to leave the European Union.
Musk’s growing influence
Musk has made a dramatic shift in politics, having endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy and calling Trump “not the right man” for the United States.
His inclination towards the right wing, however, is not new. Earlier this year, Musk came under fire after refusing to comply with an order from Brazil’s Supreme Court to remove some accounts of supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. These accounts were accused of spreading false information on X. Musk met with Bolsonaro in May 2022.
Recently, Musk’s friendship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, another far-right leader, has also been questioned. Amidst the speculation, Meloni was forced to issue a statement on December 18, “I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time be the first Italian head of government to enact a new law to regulate private activity in space.” Meloni added that she “doesn’t take orders from anybody”.
The speculation comes close on the heels of growing clamor in the US that Musk has overshadowed the president-elect.
Just last week, Musk was blamed for tanking a bipartisan funding proposal that would have kept the US federal government running until March. He aired his objections to the bill on social media platform X, which was later endorsed by Trump. The House finally passed legislation on Saturday to avert the government shutdown. Notably, the plan excluded Trump’s demand to raise the government’s borrowing limit, which Republicans and Democrats opposed.
Musk has also been accused of influencing Trump’s Cabinet picks through his social media posts and allegedly sat in on calls between Trump and foreign leaders.
Even Trump has done it woke up and paid attention Social media chatter that calls X CEO “President Musk.” Addressing the concerns, Trump said Sunday, “No he’s not taking over the presidency. They’re on a new kick… The new one is President Trump handing over the presidency to Elon Musk… No, that’s not happening.
“No, he’s not the president, I can tell you that,” he added. “I’m safe, you know why? He can’t be (the president). He wasn’t born in this country,” Trump concluded with a laugh.
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