Who Have We Just Elected?

Hold on a moment. Who precisely have we just put into office? The Republican candidates were led by Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, yet during this tumultuous November, it sometimes felt as if an entirely different force was directing the course of our collective future.

Many of us already recognize him from various prominent positions—the entrepreneur who purchased Twitter and streamlined its workforce, the visionary who breathed new life into the space sector, and the automotive pioneer whose groundbreaking trucks turn heads wherever they go. Now, Elon Musk appears to have entered the political fray, rallying crowds, impacting government appointments, and influencing the agenda of our new President.

For more than three years, Musk has ranked among the wealthiest and most powerful individuals worldwide. His tweets can cause stock markets to surge or plummet, astronauts travel aboard his spacecraft, and military operations receive vital intelligence from his satellites. His endorsements can fuel conspiracy theories. However, it is during this election cycle that his full extent of influence has truly been revealed.

Not since the era of William Randolph Hearst, the media mogul who significantly influenced FDR’s ascent nearly a century ago, has a private individual had such a profound impact on American life—including culture, media, economy, and now, politics. Even Trump seems somewhat taken aback, appearing more like a partner than a leader beside a man whose ambitions seem boundless.

Currently, it seems they are working together, driven by shared interests and a desire to disrupt the status quo. For a while, they may appear to speak with a unified voice. However, their goals do not completely align. Both are strong-willed, impulsive, and used to being at the helm. What will happen if their paths start to diverge?

If that were to occur, Musk might find himself in a precarious position. History is filled with tales of kingmakers who fell out with the leaders they helped elevate. Regardless of Musk’s immense wealth or influence, the reins of state power rest firmly with the President, and chaos could ensue if he decides to wield that power against the billionaire who aided his return to the White House.

Ultimately, the longevity of their partnership may depend on Musk’s real motivations: What drove him to ally with the MAGA movement in the first place? If his primary aim was financial gain, then he has certainly hit the jackpot.

In the week following the election, his wealth soared by over $50 billion, peaking at more than $320 billion, as investors flocked to buy Tesla shares. Yet, Musk’s obsession has never solely been about money. His willingness to pour his fortune into ambitious projects, like establishing a greenhouse on Mars, suggests he envisions a future that exceeds the typical pursuits of a business tycoon.

Read more: Why Elon Musk Was Person of the Year for 2021

Those close to Musk assert that his ultimate goal has remained unchanged since he founded SpaceX in 2002. (Notably, its investors include Marc and Lynne Benioff, owners of TIME.) Musk’s focus has been on Mars for over two decades. It’s even printed on his favorite T-shirt: OCCUPY MARS. “Everything revolves around that mission,” a close confidant shared after discussing Musk’s plans. “He’s realized that having direct or indirect control over U.S. government budgets will hasten our journey to Mars within his lifetime. Doing it privately would take significantly longer.”

This doesn’t mean that American taxpayers will shoulder the costs of Musk’s Martian dreams. Yet, when unconventional visionaries take the reins of governance, the public often pays a price. Millions of Americans, from retired factory workers to overwhelmed graduates and infants, depend on social programs that Musk has indicated he may seek to cut. Despite frequently tweeting to his 205 million followers, Musk has largely avoided questions from journalists, including inquiries about his reported interactions with foreign governments like China, Russia, and Iran. He has also not addressed the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from his influential position within a government that scrutinizes his businesses.

So far, Trump seems willing to indulge him. During his victory speech on November 6, he dedicated several minutes to praising Musk, the “super genius” who played a key role in his campaign in Pennsylvania, reportedly compensating canvassers for knocking on 11 million doors and organizing transportation for Amish voters to the polls. “We have a new star,” Trump declared from the podium in Florida. “A star is born—Elon!” Only later, about 19 minutes into his speech, did the President-elect return to his script and remember to thank his supporters.

What Musk Signifies

Musk’s importance to the Trump campaign goes beyond the $120 million he contributed, the grassroots initiatives he launched, and the social media traction he provided. For many young men who flocked to Trump in record numbers, Musk represented an ideal. He injected a sense of creativity and promise into a campaign steeped in nostalgia. While Trump energizes his base with pledges to dismantle corrupt institutions, Musk symbolizes the potential for innovation and problem-solving. With Musk at his side, Trump appeared less outdated at rallies, making it harder for critics to dismiss his team as a collection of fools when the most innovative mind of our time committed to cutting $2 trillion from the budget.

Regardless of how often Democrats have pointed out Trump’s wealth stemming from inheritance and corporate blunders, they cannot dispute Musk’s credentials as a businessman. Even Senator Bernie Sanders, a critic of billionaires, softened his tone in a recent podcast, stating: “Elon Musk is an exceptionally aggressive and capable entrepreneur, impressive in what he has achieved. He claims he could accomplish more in a week than the government can in five years, and in some cases, he’s right.”

At a time when trust in government is dwindling, many voters are seeking a competent outsider—ruthless and independent—who can streamline the vast bureaucratic machine. Musk’s promise to deliver on that front has created a momentum for cutting costs not seen in Washington for years. This initiative faced obstacles during Trump’s first term, considering the millions dependent on government jobs and the safeguards regulators provide against exploitative businesses responsible for issues like opioid addiction. Nevertheless, small-government Republicans are eager to rally behind Musk in contentious budget discussions aimed at tackling federal waste and excessive entitlements, and many Americans are likely to support them.

Throughout his campaign, the most compelling argument Musk made wasn’t during Joe Rogan’s podcast or at Trump’s rallies. It unfolded at the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, where Musk’s aerospace company mesmerized viewers by capturing a returning rocket with robotic arms. If the man who achieved this fervently supports Trump, could Trump not fulfill at least some of his promises?

Read more: What Elon Musk Really Believes

Many voters seem to believe so, particularly the young men Musk targeted for Trump with his boldness. “The biggest factor here is that men need to vote,” Musk told Rogan just before the election. The following day, after 60% of white men supported Trump, Musk tweeted: “The cavalry has arrived.” However, his influence reached beyond just the male demographic. He also resonated with voters who were skeptical of Trump’s character but intrigued by his policies. Political analysts noted that these individuals needed a “permission structure”; Musk provided that reassurance to suburban women like Betsy Stecz. As she waited in line for his October rally in Lancaster, Pa., Stecz expressed relief: “People are finally feeling like they can hold their heads high and say: I’m not ashamed to vote for Donald Trump.” In her opinion, Musk was the reason.

Given His Role

Considering his pivotal role in the campaign’s success, Musk likely expected some form of compensation. However, his involvement during Trump’s transition has reportedly unsettled others within their circle. Throughout November, Musk spent substantial time at Mar-a-Lago, offering input on Cabinet selections and advising Trump on policy priorities. He joined the President-elect for golf outings, accompanied him to an Ultimate Fighting Championship event, and even posed for photos with the Trump family, with one grandchild enthusiastically dubbing Musk as “uncle.” Musk humorously referred to his position as “First Buddy.”

This may even be an understatement. Leaders from Turkey and Ukraine have had Musk eavesdropping on their discussions with Trump. An envoy from Iran, accused of plotting against Trump, reportedly met with Musk to discuss de-escalation (although Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied such a meeting). When House Republicans invited Trump to a closed session, Musk accompanied him, riding in a car labeled GUEST 1 in Trump’s motorcade.

Read more: Iran, Trump, and the Third Assassination Plot

At that point, Trump named him to head a new initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency. Its acronym, DOGE, playfully references the popular dog-themed cryptocurrency Musk has supported. Yet the department’s mission is serious. Trump asserted it would “dismantle” the federal bureaucracy and “restructure” its agencies. “This will send shock waves through the system,” Musk claimed.

This could also grant Musk influence over the various agencies that regulate his businesses. Just weeks before the election, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an investigation into Tesla’s autonomous vehicles after several crash incidents. Additionally, California regulators ordered Tesla to address ongoing air quality violations at its Fremont facility. Tesla maintains that its vehicles are safe and that its operations comply with environmental regulations. SpaceX has likewise faced challenges with the Federal Aviation Administration, which Musk threatened to sue for what he perceived as overreach in September. A New York Times investigation revealed that his companies are currently embroiled in at least 20 regulatory disputes and investigations from various government entities. Musk and his representatives have declined to comment or respond to TIME’s inquiries regarding potential conflicts of interest.

He has yet to clarify the guiding principles for his plan to overhaul the bureaucracy. The co-director of DOGE, Vivek Ramaswamy, campaigned on a pro-business, libertarian platform during the last Republican primary. Musk’s political stance, however, is less clear. This past summer, he referred to himself as “historically, a moderate Democrat.” He has labeled climate change as the most urgent challenge of our time. When Barack Obama ran for President in 2008, Musk stood in line for six hours just to shake his hand.

His relationship with Trump has often been rocky. Their views on tariffs differ significantly, and Musk resigned from his advisory role in the White House after less than six months in 2017, protesting Trump’s climate policies. Five years later, Musk hinted it was time for Trump to “sail into the sunset,” prompting a furious response from Trump: “Elon should focus on extricating himself from the Twitter situation, as he might owe $44 billion for something that’s perhaps worthless.”

Trump’s Take

Trump’s observation was not without merit. Musk’s acquisition of Twitter seemed to lack a clear business strategy. He paid at least double the company’s value in 2022, subsequently undermining its revenue streams and laying off a substantial portion of its workforce. Musk has claimed that the platform’s headcount dropped from 8,000 to around 1,500 under his leadership. Some of his posts on the platform, now rebranded as X, appeared to contribute to corporate self-sabotage. One post, referencing an antisemitic theory, was later retracted (he subsequently apologized). Another post propagated a conspiracy theory related to the violent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. In response, numerous companies, including Microsoft and Coca-Cola, withdrew their advertising from the platform. “Don’t advertise,” he told them from the stage of a conference last fall. “If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f-ck yourself. Is that clear?” In October, Fidelity estimated that X had lost nearly 80% of its value over the past two years.

Musk, however, seemed undeterred. Even with a drastically reduced workforce, the platform continued to perform well, often ranking as one of the most downloaded news apps in the Apple App Store. Major advertisers have since returned. For some analysts, this situation is seen as evidence of Musk’s talent for corporate restructuring. “What Elon accomplished with Twitter was getting inside, cleaning house, and enhancing its functionality,” remarked an associate from Musk’s circle. “The hope is that he can replicate this success within the U.S. government.”

That is indeed a formidable challenge. Even fiscal conservatives have hesitated regarding Musk’s promise to eliminate $2 trillion in federal spending. Achieving this would require severe cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and other essential components of the social safety net. Musk has warned the nation to prepare for a period of “temporary hardship” as these reductions take place. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether he possesses the authority to enact such changes. DOGE will operate outside of the government, lacking the power to terminate federal employees. Many financial analysts predict it will follow the trajectory of numerous advisory boards that have attempted, and failed, to persuade politicians to trim the programs their constituents hold dear. The U.S. Congress already has a dedicated oversight body, the Government Accountability Office, tasked with identifying waste, fraud, and inefficiencies.

Many initial supporters of DOGE acknowledge its limitations yet celebrate it nonetheless. “Yes, a Department of Government Efficiency might be an unrealistic dream, akin to Monty Python’s Department of Silly Walks,” noted Wall Street Journal columnist Andy Kessler on November 17. “But even if Mr. Musk’s DOGE merely trims some excesses and saves a few hundred billion, that would be significant.”

Throughout his campaign, Musk stressed the importance of the U.S. operating “honestly” and “within its means.” However, if his social media platform is any indication, his goals may be more ideologically driven than efficiency-focused. His rationale for acquiring Twitter aligns with one of his core motivations for supporting Trump: a desire to protect free speech in America. “Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy,” he told Joe Rogan just before the election. “Once you lose freedom of speech, you lose democracy. Game over. That’s why I bought Twitter.” Numerous reports and studies suggest that under his leadership, the platform has devolved into a hotspot for hateful and harmful content, partly due to his decision to dismantle its content moderation team.

Read more:Elon Musk and the Tech Bro Obsession With ‘Free Speech’

When discussing his political shift, Musk often refers to the “woke mind virus,” a term he coined to describe what he perceives as a leftward shift in American society, which he believes has given rise to identity politics, cancel culture, and extensive online censorship. His grievances with these issues are deeply personal. During the pandemic, one of his children sought gender-affirming medical treatment, and Musk has stated he felt misled into consenting to it. His transgender daughter, now 20 and estranged from him, legally changed her name in 2022 to Vivian Jenna Wilson. In a podcast this past July, Musk declared that his child “is dead, killed by the woke mind virus. I vowed to eradicate the woke mind virus after that.”

Wilson responded the following day: “I look pretty good for a dead bitch.” On November 5, as the election results became clear, Wilson shared another message: “Blame the f-cking politicians and oligarchs who caused this to happen,” she wrote. “Direct your anger towards them.”

Understanding Oligarchy

In ancient Greek, the term oligarkhia translates to “rule by the few.” Aristotle was its earliest critic; in the 4th century BCE, he articulated a scenario where “men of property have the government in their hands.” In medieval Venice, the leader of the ruling oligarchy served for life and held the same title that Musk has assigned to his new department: the Doge.

The most vivid example of this system in recent history emerged in Russia during the 1990s, when a handful of businessmen seized control over the national economy during its tumultuous move towards capitalism. This oligarchy is known as semibankirshchina—the reign of the seven bankers.

The most influential among them, Boris Berezovsky, leveraged his media outlets to aid Putin in securing his first election in 2000, expecting to share in the spoils of power. Instead, their relationship soured, leading to Berezovsky’s exile and the eventual confiscation of his television network by the Russian state. Broke and isolated, he died in 2013 at his mansion in the English countryside, with authorities ruling it a suicide. To this day, his former media channel disseminates the Kremlin’s narrative.

One of Berezovsky’s close associates, Alex Goldfarb, now residing in New Jersey, watches the partnership between Musk and Trump with a mix of recognition and concern. “It appears an oligarchy is forming here as well,” he remarks. “During Putin’s early years, oligarchs fought the state tooth and nail. Here, it seems we have two oligarchs, Musk and Trump, collaborating to seize control of the state.”

The outcome may hinge on how this new duo approaches the institutions they are set to govern. If their aim is to refine these mechanisms into more efficient and effective tools of governance, the public could benefit from a system that has long suffered from bureaucratic inefficiency. However, Trump has also wielded these instruments as Putin has done in Russia—favoring allies and sidelining opponents.

Musk stands to gain considerably from this arrangement. If he continues in the role of First Buddy, he can expect a smoother experience with the regulators Trump appoints throughout the government. His most direct route to Mars could thus lead straight through the Oval Office. Yet, aside from witnessing the spectacle of his own success, what tangible benefits will trickle down to the average American?

The institutions tasked with providing healthcare, ensuring clean water, and educating future generations were never designed to function as profit-driven enterprises. Their value is immense, especially for those who can least afford to pay. If Musk’s push for efficiency results in significant reductions to these essential services, the consequences could be severe for those reliant on government assistance. For them, the repercussions may not be temporary, and none of Musk’s promises of a Martian future will alleviate their current struggles.

—With reporting by Eric Cortellessa/Lancaster and Leslie Dickstein/New York