Elon Musk has made it his mission to become the most influential innovator of our time. To achieve this, the serial entrepreneur wants to fill what he sees as a void of global leadership due to people's distrust of politicians and institutions.
The billionaire has deployed a global strategy that can be summed up in one word: Twitter. He sees the platform as the town square of our time, a place where opinion makers and trendsetters meet. In addition, the platform enables him to speak directly to people, unfiltered by the media. These two points are important to Musk's efforts to build his image.
The chief executive of Tesla (TSLA) bought Twitter for $44 billion in October and decided to make it a center for free speech, enabling users to say what they want so long as they do not violate the laws of the countries in which they post the messages.
Musk has been ubiquitous on the platform. He exchanges with users on almost all subjects, from the most serious to the most ridiculous. He makes cringeworthy jokes, using a flowery vocabulary that few CEOs would use in public.
This approach gives him the image of a maverick, of someone close to the people even if he is the second richest man in the world, with a net wealth estimated at $180 billion as of May 23, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Musk Seek Broad Influence in U.S. Politics
The tech mogul's popularity has skyrocketed: He has more than 140 million Twitter followers and an army of fans ready to defend him against every criticism. Musk now wants to leverage that influence to establish himself as the kingmaker in American political life. particularly for the most powerful job in the world: president of the United States.
Musk has promised to dip into his fortune -- to the tune of $20 million to $25 million -- to support the candidate of his choice in 2024.
But he has also decided to make his popularity an asset in this campaign. The billionaire wants to interview the candidates personally and without filter on Twitter.
He has just confirmed this ambition with Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, who will announce his presidential bid in an interview with Musk on Twitter this Wednesday, May 24. The live audio interview will be available on Twitter Spaces.
The move by DeSantis suggests that Fox News, the crown jewel of billionaire Rupert Murdoch's media empire, is no longer the primary avenue for conservative politicians.
But Musk wants to extend his influence more broadly in American politics. He has thus just extended an offer to President Joe Biden, a Democrat, who has announced that he is running for reelection, and to former President Donald Trump, who dominates the polls as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.
"Donald Trump should do a Twitter Spaces with Elon also. It would probably break the internet. RFK Jr @RobertKennedyJr should do it also. Elon, are you offering to host a Twitter Spaces with each of them? Also Biden? @elonmusk," a Twitter user asked the billionaire on May 23.
"Ok," Musk Responded.
'Happy' to Interview Biden: Musk
At another user's remark, Musk said he would be happy to interview Biden on Twitter.
"As a former Trump supporter turned Biden supporter, I believe Biden should do an interview with Elon Musk. His message can reach out to a larger demographic of people and it will show he is the President for all of us, not just his base," the user suggested.
"Happy to do it," the billionaire commented.
He then urged candidates to use the platform, which he sees as an accelerator to create his Everything App, for their ads as the campaign gets underway.
"Any candidate who announces on this platform will get the highest possible audience. It’s a smart move," the billionaire argued.
Whether Trump will accept the invitation from Musk is unclear. Musk last November ended Trump's suspension from the platform, which had been imposed after Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the Capitol to prevent Congress from validating Biden's victory.
Trump is currently staying on Truth Social, his social network. He hasn't tweeted since Jan. 8, 2021.
Biden has a feisty relationship with Musk, whom he has still not invited to the White House despite having met most of the CEOs of American automotive groups.
