Musk's war on America's allies -. Is he speaking for Trump?

[Dave in Phoenix]

The Financial Times 1/7/2025 A detailed article points out that America did not elect Elon Musk [Musk contributed $277 million to Trump-related campaigns CBS News 12/6/2014]. Yet he is acting as Donald Trump's de facto co-president. Musk's self-appointed remit includes gunning for regime change in allied democracies. He has repeatedly said only the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) can save Germany in next month's election. He is calling for an end to Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government in the UK. He also asked his 211 million X followers if "America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government." The consensus seems to be yes.

Just as significant is what Musk is not saying. As he bombards Germany and the UK with abuse, Musk's silence on Russia and China speaks even louder. Musk has never spoken out for political prisoners or against repression in either of those autocracies.
Musk's silence on China is easier to understand. His Tesla company has big operations there that he does not want to risk. By contrast, Musk amplifies Trump's admiration of Vladimir Putin's Russia and disdain for Europe. The Trump-Musk antipathy towards European liberal democracy is real. He shares Trump's impatience to end the Ukraine war on terms that might end up favourable to Russia. The AfD vows to end Germany's support for Ukraine. More at https://www.ft.com/content/ff7b1061-633a-46d2-9927-06845d51b7fb

More details from Bloomberg "Musk Takes Slash-and-Burn Style to Europe After Bolstering Trump"

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

 

[oil&gas]

Musk's silence on China is easier to understand. His Tesla company has big operations there that he does not want to risk. By contrast, Musk amplifies Trump's admiration of Vladimir Putin's Russia and disdain for Europe.

I gather Musk could be privy to Trump's intent to (likely partially) lift sanctions
against Russia after the Ukraine war is over. Musk is not a man who would run his
business based on ideology or personal disdain or admiration for potential business
partners. Europe will be good for putting money into the U.S. pockets for its military
junks and overpriced LNG exports. Russia OTOH is the key to the U.S. growing
its business with BRICS. Trump will be happy to return Big Oil Drillers to Russia
to rescue its dying oil fields already devastated by sanctions. That is to translate
to more cheap oil for India and China to enable them to manufacture low cost exports
to the U.S. Meanwhile Europe's economy will be further weakened by escalating
energy cost thanks to sanctions against Russia and outrageously expensive U.S.
LNG imports. It will have no choice but to migrate its manufacturing base to North
America. It is unfortunate Trump failed big time to end the Ukraine war on time.
Nonetheless you can count on him to reap profits from the war.

With parts of Ukraine annexed Russia will become a more desirable potential business
partner for Musk and other businesses involved in global energy transition. Russia
has already seized a good chunk of Ukraine's lithium resources. I am not sure about
this but I think Russia may also have seized Ukraine's inert gas resources as well
which provide crucial material input to the semiconductor industry. Post-war Russia
will turn into Musk's money maker.

 

[Frankfooter]

The tech billionaires want to own politicians.
Starmer just got bought by amazon in the UK.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1882154277746983173

 

[PeterParker1000]

What I find very interesting is the $500b contract with OpenAI and Sam Altman. Everyone knows Elon hates that platform as it was meant to be nonprofit. Elon is even developing his own AI with Grok.

I don’t understand how Elon would be ok with this yet Trump announced it while Elon was at the White House with him. Elon even criticized the move on X after it happened. Trump and Elon are 1a and 1b. The only way this makes sense to me is they are going to screw Sam Altman and OpenAI over and Elon is in on the whole thing.

Disclaimer to original topic : I totally support what Elon is doing against the UK and Germany