Recently, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates lashed out at Elon Musk for his support of far-right political figures and his forays into international politics, calling it “insane shit.” Gates emphasized that people such as Musk should be a force for good, not for populist endeavors.
Musk’s forays into politics and controversies
Of late, Elon Musk, chief of Tesla and SpaceX, has escalated his political activities, especially in Europe. He has openly supported the far-right party of Germany, Alternative für Deutschland—or AfD—which is known for its anti-immigration policy. Musk’s endorsement of the AfD drew criticism from German leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who expressed concern over his influence on the country’s political landscape.
He has also weighed in on the political discourses in the UK, accusing British politicians of a cover-up over a decade-old rape scandal. The claims emerged as the UK works on new legislation aimed at making online spaces safer—affecting businesses owned by Musk, including X, formerly Twitter. Not to mention Musk’s recent Nazi-style salute at a rally, then the puns connected to the term “Nazi” that received wide global condemnation given the timing with the 80-year liberation anniversary of Auschwitz.
Gates’ apprehensions about political destabilization
Gates said he was shocked that Musk “can actually destabilize the political situations in countries” and added, “That’s a really crazy thing.” He said nations should put in safeguards to ensure super-rich foreigners can’t manipulate their elections, as the United States does in restricting foreign donations.
That prompted Gates, at the tail end of his several lucrative business involvements in the nations of China and Germany, among many others, and sizeable United States government projects awarded to Musk firms, to question Elon’s intentions “It is strange to know the reason one doing a factory and car deal business in China or Germany could always be super-interested with matters of personal safety in case history repeats in time. “
Diverse practices of the benefactors
Where Musk has sunk money into Tesla and SpaceX, among other ventures, Gates has taken a very different tack: philanthropy. He’s donated nearly $60 billion through the Gates Foundation to causes including disease eradication and global health initiatives.
That’s earned him his share of critics, of course—including even being called a “child killer” by vaccine skeptics. He also spoke to the greater need for powerful leaders to keep critical initiatives going, as evidenced by his meetings with former President Donald Trump to discuss HIV funding and efforts toward disease eradication.
Greater consequences of Musk into politics
With Musk’s forays into politics, many questions have arisen concerning what role these influential tech leaders will play in global politics. Public support for far-right parties and very public statements have made Musk not only criticize figures such as Gates but also raise debates around what responsibilities billionaires have in light of shaping political discourse. As Musk continues to use his platform and resources toward affecting political outcomes, the international community remains watchful about what this might imply for democratic processes and political stability.
