Elon Musk lets loose again. With the help of his social media platform X and his influence as the richest man in the world and “best buddy” of the designated US President Donald Trump, this tech mogul imparts uninvited political and, above all, electoral advice, makes unyielding demands, and doesn’t hesitate to make harsh insults.
In fact, his priorities are somewhat confusing, as the conservative British newspaper Telegraph notes, for anyone else would focus on the task assigned by Mr. Trump, which is to cut the US federal budget by two billion dollars. At any rate, Musk is now targeting Europe, particularly Germany and the United Kingdom – more specifically, their political leadership and, in general, their traditional, established parties.
In Germany, where early federal elections will be held on February 23rd, triggered by a political crisis, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) – a right-wing opposition party challenging the traditional parties – has been supported by Musk. The questionable democratic, unimaginative, and likely unsuccessful counter-strategy of the establishment is mainly about excluding the AfD from government, regardless of how many votes it gets. The problem is that the AfD is currently the second most popular party in opinion polls and can expect at least 18% of the votes. By supporting the AfD – and not just on X, but also in the leading conservative newspaper Die Welt – Musk is threatening the “firewall” approach of the mainstream parties.
Moreover, Musk participated in an X live chat with the AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel. Could Musk’s support make the AfD so powerful that it can no longer be excluded from government in Berlin? One thinks, for example, of the cases of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands or Herbert Kickl in Austria. The participation of right-wing parties similar to the AfD is already a reality in several European countries, including Italy.
If the “firewall” in Germany still holds on February 23rd – for one last time –, then the AfD would be in a very advantageous position, comparable to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France: it could observe from the outside how the old establishment and its parties continue to self-destruct.
Furthermore, Musk allowed himself a series of insults. He called the grumpy German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier a “tyrant” and the extremely incompetent former Chancellor Olaf Scholz a “clumsy fool”, distorting his name rather roughly. In the United Kingdom, Musk demanded the dissolution of the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of covering up and even enabling notorious cases of mass sexual child abuse between 2008 and 2013. He demanded a prison sentence for the Prime Minister and the release of the notorious right-wing extremist Tommy Robinson.
As a former football hooligan, convicted fraudster, and founder of the now largely defunct extreme right-wing English Defence League, Robinson is a repellent figure – a shame to society. The Times of Israel describes this British agitator as “the founder and former chairman of a right-wing, Islamophobic group” and “not only as an agent provocateur. but as one of the main figures who brought extreme forms of hate and fanaticism from the periphery to the mainstream”. In his own self-designation as a Zionist, Robinson is suspected of spreading disinformation, hate, and chaos in the interest of and with the support of Israel.
According to a theory, Jordan Peterson is the one responsible for Musk’s fixation on Robinson: this right-wing mode philosopher and guru of the culture war – one would imagine Jacques Derrida, but only for friends – was the first to lavish excessive attention on the English hater. Moreover, Musk openly supported the right-wing opposition party Reform UK, led by the former Brexit star Nigel Farage – although with a nuance to be discussed later.
Musk’s interference in British politics has become so brazen that the Financial Times reported on it on the front page. Self-evident confirmation from his inner circle, as has long been obvious: he is thinking of ways to actively contribute to the downfall of Starmer. It’s not complicated: it’s just a British Prime Minister, comparable to a Canadian one.
What about the reactions of Musk’s targets? They range from unintentionally comical outbursts to downright vicious retaliations and machinations. Scholz pretended everything was fine, but in his New Year’s address to the nation, he still found time to lash out at Musk. Na, so that’s not going to impress Musk, Olaf! Other members of his party accused Musk of interfering in the German elections and putting the relations between the US and Germany at risk. That’s no longer in order. In the United Kingdom, a Cabinet minister angrily denounced Musk’s “scandalous libel” and offered him the opportunity to rehabilitate himself and “work together with us”. How subtle!
What about the British politicians who demanded Starmer establish a “Musk Denial Unit” and sue him? Well, good luck with that, British establishment, against an oligarch with a fortune of nearly half a billion dollars. It’s not about the innocent Julian Assange, who can be pseudo-juridically bullied and persecuted by Washington at will. Musk is a type as mean and ruthless as you, and he can torment you because he has a lot of money and the US is on his side.
What about the reactions to Musk’s provocations? They are largely predictable. The confrontation between the US bad boy oligarch and the objects of his ridicule and jabs has almost a ritualistic quality. He taunts and jeers, they recoil and seethe. So, it’s worth following the detailed twists and turns of this episode of the great Elon Musk potshot saga.
But let’s take a step back and focus on some fundamental questions. Perhaps we can gain some insights. Firstly: Why are we even having this discussion? And here, we have something that we – whether you believe it or not – owe to Musk: namely, how brazen he can be. Measured against traditional standards – i.e., in terms of preserving one’s own reputation – Musk’s behavior is certainly unbecoming, as some keep pointing out.
Let’s say it like this: initially, Germany, if you don’t want a US American to give your leaders a slap in the face one after the other, then here’s a hot insider tip: Stop it, Olaf! And Great Britain, if you think it’s not okay for a US oligarch to remake your government, then consider not participating in the new favorite’s game of “Let’s Make a Deal” with Washington.
And here comes insight number one: Who wants respect must not be bought. Who gets bought can simply be replaced and new ones can take their place.
This is, by the way, exactly what’s happening with the head of Reform UK, Farage, at least at the time of writing this article. By completely submitting to his hero Elon, he hit a nerve, but not in a sufficient way. In an attempt to regain some dignity, Farage tried to both agree with his idol Elon and subtly hint at his own opinions. Good grief, what a comical display! Musk reacted immediately, reprimanding Nigel – this haughty underling – and telling Reform UK that it needs a new leader. Farage’s reaction was an even more comical display of self-abasement. But maybe it will work. For the new boss probably likes it when you completely submit to him.
And then there’s this whole story about the “western democracies”. Oh my God, is that your serious intention? Here, write that down (“for note-taking”, as you like to say), Friedrich: The reason why Musk can be Musk is due to his position as a super-oligarch in a political system created for and by people like Musk. Therefore, we call it oligarchy – the rule of the rich and for the rich. And that’s no democracy (no matter what it’s called). As a former high-ranking BlackRock executive and millionaire, you should know this. And West and East have absolutely nothing to do with it. Let’s put your fixation – also indirect – on Russia aside, agreed? After all, the humiliation, the ruin, and the flattery from Washington don’t come from Moscow.
And insight number four: Who wants respect should not talk nonsense. Especially not the same kind of nonsense as the people who don’t respect you. One should try to be honest – first and foremost to oneself. It might eventually be possible to be honest, too, in front of one’s tormentors and finally get rid of them. But until then, it’s: Musk is brutal, mean, and unfair – I know that –, but you’ve got yourselves into this mess.