Elon Musk's political maneuvering sparks transatlantic tension

The latest antics of the billionaire include attacks on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the announcement of potential support, possibly financial, for Nigel Farage's far-right Reform UK party. Farage, who co-authored the campaign for Brexit, has also been supported by Musk. A few weeks before the parliamentary elections, Musk also backed the German far-right party AfD, declared that Olaf Scholz must go, and insulted the chancellor with posts on the platform X, reports Axios.

The individual who is considered the right-hand man of the future US president is attacking leaders of countries that are among America's most significant allies, emphasizes the portal.

"Starmer was complicit in the RAPE OF BRITAIN" (original spelling) - announced Musk on X, referring to the investigation into the rape gangs. "Starmer must go and he must face charges for his complicity in the worst mass crime in the history of Britain," he added. In an interview with Axios, he mentioned exploring legal options for funding the Reform UK party campaign, but American "Newsweek" cites another statement where Musk announced he might invest over £100 (€123) million in Farage's group.

Farage himself informed the "Daily Telegraph" that Musk would fund his party.

Concerning Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the billionaire wrote on X that he is an "insufferable fool," after which he shared an interview with Trudeau's rival, conservative politician Pierre Poilievre, with his followers.

"The Economist" highlights that when Musk decided to support AfD in Germany and called this party "the last spark of hope," Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU and a candidate for chancellor, remarked: "I can’t remember a comparable case of interference in the election campaign of a friendly country in the history of the Western democracies."

The billionaire's posts on his platform X about German politicians are "childishly offensive," according to the British weekly. He labelled President Frank-Walter Steinmeier an "anti-democratic tyrant," and referred to the chancellor as "Oaf Schtiz."

As Axios assesses, since Musk gained significant influence in the incoming American administration, he has attempted to leverage it in both domestic and foreign policy. So much so that Republican congressmen have started calling him "prime minister."

The issue arises from the fact that the billionaire has threatened congressmen who attempt to oppose him that he will finance their rivals' campaigns during the Congressional elections. This is a very strong incentive for Republicans to comply with his demands, writes Axios.

"The New Yorker" magazine described spring campaigns conducted by Silicon Valley billionaire-backed Super PAC organisations, which undermined the electoral prospects of candidates reluctant towards them for Congress or state authorities.

The scale of Musk's financial capabilities is highlighted in "Forbes" rankings. The value of his fortune increased in 2024 and now stands at €408 billion. The gap between the richest person in the world and the second on the list, Jeff Bezos (€226 billion), has grown to a historic record - €182 billion. No one before Elon Musk has been worth €290 billion, let alone €387 billion, emphasizes "Forbes."

Renowned American historian Timothy Snyder cautioned in an interview with "The Guardian" that Trump’s camp should be alert to the role Musk is beginning to play and the extent of his influence.

Now that the president-elect has announced that, with regard to aid to Ukraine, the White House will pursue a new policy, there is concern that it will "heavily favor Vladimir Putin and Russia," Snyder believes focus should be on who holds influence in Trump's administration, writes "The Guardian."

I think we overestimate Trump and we underestimate Musk - said the historian.

According to Snyder, the White House may become the scene of a serious confrontation between the president and his most powerful ally, although, on the other hand, Musk is needed by Trump because he will finance his projects.

A lot of smart Russia hands are saying this all the time: this is kind of like the 1990s in Russia. You have the doddering, rich-but-not-very-rich president [Boris Yeltsin], surrounded by more youthful, more active, ambitious oligarchs. That’s the kind of scenario [America is] in - warned Snyder.

Bill Kristol, a writer and commentator, one of America's most prominent neoconservatives, wrote in the summer that billionaires like Musk are the "new oligarchs," who supported Trump to be able to control the government, which poses a threat to America's political order.