Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, has become an important voice in both business and politics. He has used his considerable wealth and influence to shape public discourse. Though Musk’s presence in politics is seen as beneficial, his actions often reveal a more dangerous, self-serving side that can be an ultimate detriment to the Republican Party.
Musk’s enormous wealth has granted him an outsize voice in political discussions. His belated financial contributions to the Republican Party are notable but also highlight a larger problem with the political system: the overwhelming power of the ultrawealthy on policymaking, particularly for conservatives who have long railed against liberal billionaires such as George Soros.
This concentration of political power in the hands of a few billionaires, whether it’s through direct donations or more subtle forms of influence, undermines the democratic process. In a democracy, the concerns of ordinary citizens should shape the policies that govern them, not the whims of a select group of people who stand to benefit personally from favorable legislation.
Musk’s control of X allows him to shape political narratives, amplify his own interests, and silence or marginalize critics, all without the level of scrutiny or accountability that a public official would face.
His unorthodox style resonates with the party’s libertarian wing, which values antiestablishment rhetoric and iconoclastic figures. On the other hand, Musk’s erratic behavior and lack of awareness could tarnish the GOP’s image among suburban voters and moderates who are turned off by volatility and unpredictability.
Musk’s reputation is increasingly shaped by controversy. His frequent use of X to make bold, sometimes reckless statements has led to significant media attention and often overshadows the work of our elected officials. That was made apparent after the most recent budget battle when Republican politicians heaped praise upon Musk for his role in getting the bill over the finish line. Credit was due to the unelected billionaire.
Most recently, Musk suspended the X account of journalist Jacqueline Sweet. Her injury? Sweet wrote an article confirming that Musk is not operating under the pseudonym Adrian Dittman. This was in response to social media rumors that Musk created the alt account to amplify his own point of view.
Musk actually replied to Sweet’s now-inaccessible tweet and claimed he is indeed the infamous Dittman. Hours later, Sweet received notification her account was frozen for 30 days. While many assumed she violated X’s policy against doxing, the actual offense remains unclear.
Musk’s active social media engagement also complicates the relationship between conservative influencers and the GOP. X has become a powerful tool for conservative voices who rely on the platform for monetization, building their personal brands, and directly engaging with their audiences.
However, these influencers are incentivized to align with Musk’s views. If they want to retain their platform, followers, and sources of income, they will feel pressured to champion Musk’s positions or engage in self-censorship to avoid being banned or deplatformed. The fear of alienating Musk or being blacklisted on X encourages a kind of sycophantic behavior, in which conservative influencers seek out his approval or try to ingratiate themselves with him.
The close relationship Musk has with Donald Trump could challenge the appeal the president-elect has among his MAGA base. I am one of the millions who have stood with Trump since 2016 and watched countless people attach themselves to the former president, co-opt his agenda, and abandon him when it became no longer convenient. In Musk’s case, he arrived well after Trump won the GOP primary and dominated the first presidential debate against a diminished President Joe Biden.
To say I don’t trust Musk is the understatement of 2025. His transactional relationship with Trump may benefit his business interests, but after he flagrantly attacked Trump voters for expressing long-held concerns about abuses within our immigration system, it’s worth questioning whether Musk respects the base at all.
For Trump, this is problematic because Musk’s personal brand and corporate interests do not align neatly with the populist and nationalist ideals that have come to define Trump’s political career. That the president-elect did not reject the racist characterizations Musk ascribed to his voters is concerning.
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Musk’s impact on politics and the GOP is a double-edged sword. While his business ventures and media presence have made him an influential figure, his actions are often distracting and at odds with the broader values of the conservative movement.
Whether Musk will become a force for unity or division within the Republican Party remains uncertain, but navigating his growing influence will require a careful balance between embracing innovation and protecting the party’s core values.
Melik Abdul is a Republican strategist and “Black Americans for Trump” coalition member.