Bad Prospects
Elon Musk’s political plans will probably fail.
“Ridiculous.” That was President Donald Trump’s verdict on the plans of his former buddy, financier and adviser, Elon Musk, to found a new party in opposition to Trump’s Republican Party. And as much as Trump’s opponents in the U.S. and around the world want Musk to inflict as much damage as possible, Trump will probably prove to be right.
The tech billionaire may be smart enough not to reach for the stars, i.e., for real power. His goal is not a party in Congress or governmental offices; he only wants a vehicle with which he can continue to make headlines that annoy Trump and increase pressure within Trump’s own party. And he is talking about candidates that he will send into close races — to deprive the Republicans and Democrats he wants to hurt the most of decisive votes.
U.S. history shows that that is quite possible. But there is little to suggest that Musk will succeed. Even the timing is cutting it close for completing the laborious process of registering a party and candidates in enough states for the midterms next year. In the next presidential election, Musk is hampered by the fact that the U.S. Constitution does not allow him, a South African by birth, to run for the top office. If he were to find another candidate, the experience with Trump demonstrates how long such alpha males may manage to cooperate with each other.
Moreover, Musk will hardly be able to beat the populists at their own game. The president continually uses defectors as scapegoats. If Trump’s package of spending cuts unleashes its devastating effects, for instance, he can blame Musk, his ex-saver-in-chief. What should Musk use to counter that? Musk is not the only one short on ideas. So, his party is likely to become one thing above all: the stillborn child of a braggart.
“Ridiculous.” That was President Donald Trump’s verdict on the plans of his former buddy, financier and adviser, Elon Musk, to found a new party in opposition to Trump’s Republican Party. And as much as Trump’s opponents in the U.S. and around the world want Musk to inflict as much damage as possible, Trump will probably prove to be right.
The tech billionaire may be smart enough not to reach for the stars, i.e., for real power. His goal is not a party in Congress or governmental offices; he only wants a vehicle with which he can continue to make headlines that annoy Trump and increase pressure within Trump’s own party. And he is talking about candidates that he will send into close races — to deprive the Republicans and Democrats he wants to hurt the most of decisive votes.
U.S. history shows that that is quite possible. But there is little to suggest that Musk will succeed. Even the timing is cutting it close for completing the laborious process of registering a party and candidates in enough states for the midterms next year. In the next presidential election, Musk is hampered by the fact that the U.S. Constitution does not allow him, a South African by birth, to run for the top office. If he were to find another candidate, the experience with Trump demonstrates how long such alpha males may manage to cooperate with each other.
Moreover, Musk will hardly be able to beat the populists at their own game. The president continually uses defectors as scapegoats. If Trump’s package of spending cuts unleashes its devastating effects, for instance, he can blame Musk, his ex-saver-in-chief. What should Musk use to counter that? Musk is not the only one short on ideas. So, his party is likely to become one thing above all: the stillborn child of a braggart.
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