How Elon Musk uses X to back right-wing world leaders like Argentina's Javier Milei and India's Narendra Modi, who can help secure advantages for his businesses
Minutes after it became clear that Javier Milei had been elected president of South America's second-largest nation in November … Threads: @karaswisher , @motorcityadam , @karaswisher , @yonetteajoseph , @markjacobnews , and @lorakolodny Bluesky: @rmac.bsky.social , @delexical.bsky.social , and @kateconger.bsky.social X: @ryp__ , @flitteronfraud , @rmac18 , @rmac18 , @ericgeller , @kateconger , and @markjacob16 Forums: Hacker News , r/RealTesla , r/Fuckthealtright , r/musked , and r/inthenews Threads: Kara Swisher / @karaswisher : He slavishly and elaborately licks them up and down, with a talent for leaning over to whatever side he needs to be on. It is an existential crisis for him regarding Tesla and Starlink if Biden wins, so watch for much untoward suckuppery to Trump to come. Adam Cook / @motorcityadam : Musk's hate, bigotry and fascism was readily-apparent to some from at least a decade ago. It may be benefitting Musk economically now out of coincidence, but we see today in Musk is nothing new. People just chose to ignore it back then and, many chose to ignore it still - trying to walk an absurd tight rope between Musk's illusion of “technological progress” and Musk's destructive hate. … Kara Swisher / @karaswisher : An extremely sharp fellow billionaire told me to ignore all the bad boy cosplay and that this was Elon's game from the start when he bought Twitter, which was spot on. It is the same with Trump bear hug — always acting in his own economic self interest. Yonette Joseph / @yonetteajoseph : On this playground, it's Musk and a constellation of right-wing heads of state. He uses X to hype politicians like Javier Milei of Argentina, Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Narendra Modi of India — backing their views on gender, feting their opposition to socialism and aggressively confronting their enemies. … Mark Jacob / @markjacobnews : The attempts of strongman leaders to crush liberty and cash in on their power is a global trend. It's world domination vs. human freedom. And Elon Musk is on the side of the tyrants. https://www.nytimes.com/... Lora Kolodny / @lorakolodny : followers of daily news reporting on Elon Musk & his companies, appearances and commentary are well aware of his opportunism and stated ideologies - but you should still read this omnibus of Musk's geopolitical alliances https://www.nytimes.com/... Bluesky: Ryan Mac / @rmac.bsky.social : In the last ~2 years, Elon Musk has met with or courted the leaders of Argentina, Brazil, India, Italy, Turkey, China and Israel. — Here's our story on his strategy of cozying up to nationalist and authoritarian leaders as he speaks advantages for his businesses: www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/t... Ronan Delexical / @delexical.bsky.social : Though he's boosting the extremist right in Ireland when all they are is a rabble burning hotels where refugees might be housed. There's no conceivable payback there. So in Ireland it's clear he's just on the far right by affinity. Kate Conger / @kateconger.bsky.social : Scoops from me and @rmac.bsky.social! Musk has used Twitter to build influence with right-wing leaders, blocking the company from enforcing its policy against election misinfo after Bolsanaro's loss and telling workers he'd call Modi directly to resolve issues www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/t... X: Robert Young Pelton / @ryp__ : Elon Musk through his ownership and access to Starlink and Xitter could offer in depth data, analytics, political and sentiment information to hostile nations, political parties and special interest groups. https://www.nytimes.com/... Emily Flitter / @flitteronfraud : Great look at how @elonmusk is flirting with right-wing leaders in resource-rich parts of the world, using X to boost their egos, by @RMac18, @jacknicas & @travelli https://www.nytimes.com/... Ryan Mac / @rmac18 : Many thanks to our great reporting team who pulled this together: @jacknicas, @travelli, @jasondhorowitz, @kateconger, @sameeryasir, @opaulomm, @luciacholakian, and @ishaan_jhavs. Here's a gift link to read for free: https://www.nytimes.com/... Ryan Mac / @rmac18 : Lots of reporting in this piece from our team, but one finding relevant to Twitter: After purchasing the company, Musk involved himself in internal content moderation decisions that ostensibly favored his political ally in Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. https://twitter.com/... Eric Geller / @ericgeller : “No other American megabillionaire businessperson has so publicly fostered ideological relationships with world leaders to advance personal politics and businesses.” Kate Conger / @kateconger : scoops from me and @RMac18! Musk has used Twitter to build influence with right-wing leaders, blocking the company from enforcing its policy against election misinfo after Bolsanaro's loss and telling workers he'd call Modi directly to resolve issues https://www.nytimes.com/... Mark Jacob / @markjacob16 : The attempts of strongman leaders to crush liberty and cash in on their power is a global trend. It's world domination vs. human freedom. And Elon Musk is on the side of the tyrants. https://www.nytimes.com/... Forums: Hacker News : Elon Musk's Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit r/RealTesla : Elon Musk's Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit. r/Fuckthealtright : Elon Musk's Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit. r/musked : Elon Musk's Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit. r/inthenews : Elon Musk's Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit.