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Businessman and political activist Elon Musk is a focal point of extensive press coverage, with public attitudes towards him fluctuating at various points throughout his career.
Although his ventures have been highly influential within their separate industries starting in the 2000s, Musk only became a public figure in the early 2010s. He has been described as an eccentric who makes spontaneous and impactful decisions, while also often making controversial statements, contrary to other billionaires who prefer reclusiveness to protect their businesses. Musk's actions and his expressed views have made him a polarizing figure.[1] Biographer Ashlee Vance described people's opinions of Musk as polarized due to his "part philosopher, part troll" persona on Twitter.[2]
Musk has been described as an American oligarch due to his extensive influence over public discourse, social media, industry, politics, and government policy.[3] His influence in the second presidency of Donald Trump led some to call him the "actual president-elect", "shadow president" or "co-president".[4][5]
- ^ Ghaffary, Shirin (May 20, 2023). "Elon Musk won't stop tweeting his way into trouble". Vox. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ Maloy, Ashley Fetters; Tiku, Nitasha (July 16, 2022). "How Elon Musk became a new kind of celebrity". Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ Oligarch...
- Reynolds, Maura (October 28, 2024). "'Everything Is Subservient to the Big Guy': Fiona Hill on Trump and America's Emerging Oligarchy". Politico. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- "Donald Trump could turn Elon Musk into an American oligarch". Politico. September 7, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- Borger, Julian (October 25, 2024). "Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Putin for two years, says report". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- Krugman, Paul (December 19, 2022). "Why Petulant Oligarchs Rule Our World". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
- Kim, Whizy (November 25, 2024). "Elon Musk and the age of shameless oligarchy". Vox. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
- ^ Parker, Ashley; Dawsey, Josh; Scherer, Michael (November 13, 2024). "Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, becomes Donald Trump's 'first buddy'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
Now, during the transition, Musk has emerged somewhere between unofficial co-president and "first buddy," as he put it in an X posting — bounding in and out of meetings, sitting in on phone calls, weighing résumés and generally becoming as ubiquitous at Mar-a-Lago as the club's gilded inlay.
- ^ Metzger, Bryan (December 19, 2024). "Trump team makes clear Elon Musk isn't the leader of the GOP". Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025.
It came after scores of Democrats baited Trump with social media posts accusing Musk of being the actual president-elect, the "shadow president," or the "co-president."