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Former UK Deputy PM Nick Clegg Criticizes Elon Musk for Playing ‘Outsized Role’ in Politics

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James Morales
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Key Takeaways

  • Nick Clegg has said Elon Musk risks becoming a “political puppet master.”
  • The Meta executive is concerned about Musk’s influence over the incoming U.S. presidency.
  • However, how much Musk will be able to shape Trump’s agenda remains to be seen.

Never in the history of American politics has the influence of the super-rich been displayed so publicly as in the case of Elon Musk.

The Tesla CEO’s role in Donald Trump’s election campaign and influence since his victory is unprecedented in modern times.

Commenting on Musk’s “outsized role” in contemporary U.S. and global politics, Nick Clegg, a former U.K. Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s Vice President for Global Affairs, said the billionaire risked becoming a “political puppet master.”

Nick Clegg Weighs in on Musk’s Influence

“Elon Musk is obviously playing an outsized role in both the election and now the formation of the new U.S. administration,” Clegg stated on Nick Robinson’s BBC podcast .

Going forward, however, “he has a choice,” Clegg emphasized.

“He can be either an avid and well heeled supporter,” or he can become “ a sort of political puppet master, going well beyond Trump and deciding who the next who the next Republican candidate should be, the one after that, and so on and so forth.”

The former, Clegg said, is one most people are familiar with. The super-rich have always used their money to get involved in politics.

The latter, however, “is quite different to the general tradition of American democracy,” he observed.

The Super Rich in American Politics

Since the founding of the Republic, economic elites have always exerted their influence on American politics.

In the late 19th century, figures like John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan wielded enormous political influence through lobbying, campaign contributions, and control over media.

Their wealth enabled them to push policies favorable to their industries, such as tariffs and anti-labor legislation.

After the Great Depression, the tide of public opinion turned against wealthy elites. And although they continued to use their money to shape American government policy, they turned to more covert methods than previously.

The first political action committees (PACs) were formed in the 1940s, which also saw the rising power of well-funded think tanks and lobby groups as the mechanics of buying influence became more sophisticated.

In the modern era, the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC (2010)  removed many restrictions on election spending, leading to the rise of today’s Super PACs.

These entities allowed the ultra-wealthy to contribute unlimited funds to political campaigns, significantly amplifying their influence.

Wealthy donors like George Soros and the Koch brothers became synonymous with billionaires shaping political outcomes. Their contributions helped fund candidates, sway public opinion through media campaigns, and promote certain policies.

In a sense, Elon Musk is in the same mold—a kind of Rupert Murdoch for the digital age. He uses X to promote his personal ideology and helps bankroll Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign with his own Super PAC.

But the sheer brazenness of Musk’s efforts surprised many observers.

Since Trump’s election, Musk has emerged as one of the president Elect’s closest advisors, sitting in on dozens of calls and meetings with the transition team and spending days at a time at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Unlike a previous generation of billionaire political donors, Musk does not attempt to hide or downplay his role, keeping everyone updated with constant posts on X. Still, proximity isn’t necessarily the same as power.

How Much Sway Does Musk Really Have?

While Clegg isn’t the only person to express concern at Musk’s political maneuvering, just how much influence he will be able to wield remains uncertain.

In his effort to shape the American government, Musk’s greatest victory so far has been securing a role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, the regulatory bonfire promised by DOGE is far from guaranteed.

Given that DOGE is not a formal government department, the unit can only propose ideas that Trump must agree to. While Musk and fellow DOGE leader Vivek Ramaswamy believe there is a legal basis for the White House to cut regulations unilaterally, the opposition is already lawyering up to oppose them at every turn.

The other area where Musk may seek to exert his influence is in Trump’s cabinet picks.

On X, he has promoted a string of candidates for high-profile positions. For example, Musk rallied behind Matt Gaetz, who Trump planned to appoint as Attorney General before he stepped down amid concerns the Senate wouldn’t approve his nomination.

In other cases, however, Musk has had less success. His preferred candidate for Treasury Secretary Howard Lutnick was ultimately passed over in favor of Scott Bessent, who the X boss described as “a business-as-usual choice.”

Musk has been so proactive in seeking to shape the Trump presidency that he risks making enemies among other advisors.

According to unnamed sources cited by NBC , Musk’s near-constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Election Day has started to irk some of Trump’s inner circle.

“He’s behaving as if he’s a co-president and making sure everyone knows it,” a source said.

“He’s sure taking lots of credit for the president’s victory. Bragging about America PAC and X to anyone who will listen. He’s trying to make President Trump feel indebted to him. And the president is indebted to no one,” they added.

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James Morales

Although his background is in crypto and FinTech news, these days, James likes to roam across CCN’s editorial breadth, focusing mostly on digital technology. Having always been fascinated by the latest innovations, he uses his platform as a journalist to explore how new technologies work, why they matter and how they might shape our future.
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