Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has raised concerns over Elon Musk’s growing political influence across multiple countries, calling it “insane” that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has the power to destabilize political situations globally.
In an interview with The Times UK, Gates criticized Musk’s recent interventions in British and German politics, arguing that super-rich foreigners should not be able to manipulate elections.
“It’s really insane that he can destabilize the political situations in countries,” Gates said.
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Musk has made waves in British politics by publicly calling for the removal of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The billionaire accused Starmer of failing to prevent the rape of young girls when he served as Britain’s chief prosecutor from 2008 to 2013, a claim that sparked outrage and was dismissed as misleading and inflammatory by political analysts.
In Germany, Musk has thrown his support behind the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). On Saturday, he spoke virtually at an AfD campaign rally, backing their platform ahead of the country’s February national elections.
In December, Musk penned an op-ed in Welt am Sonntag, a major German newspaper, praising AfD as “the last spark of hope for this country” and endorsing their hardline stance on immigration—a key issue in Germany’s political landscape.
South America Too
But Musk’s political footprint is not limited to Europe—he has increasingly been shaping political discourse in South America as well, siding with right-wing governments and challenging leftist leaders.
In Brazil, Musk has clashed with leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accusing him of censorship and authoritarianism.
Lula’s government has been investigating fake news and disinformation spread on social media, prompting Musk to accuse him of trying to silence political opponents.
In April 2024, Musk publicly defied Brazil’s Supreme Court, refusing to comply with a ruling that ordered the removal of accounts accused of spreading misinformation and extremist content. Musk took to X, calling the court’s actions a violation of free speech, and openly stated that he would not obey the orders.
Musk’s defiance fueled tensions between Brazil’s judiciary and his company, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes slamming a ban and fine on X.
Musk has also emerged as a strong supporter of Argentina’s new right-wing president, Javier Milei, who was elected in 2023.
Milei, a self-proclaimed libertarian and staunch opponent of socialism, has drawn comparisons to U.S. President Donald Trump. He pledged to dismantle Argentina’s welfare state, slash government spending, and implement radical free-market reforms—an agenda that aligns with Musk’s views on government intervention.
Shortly after Milei’s election, Musk praised him on X, calling his victory “a big win for the people of Argentina”. Musk also met with Milei’s team, reportedly discussing economic policies and the potential for Tesla to expand operations in Argentina, a country rich in lithium reserves—a critical component for Tesla’s electric vehicle batteries.
Musk’s endorsement of Milei has been seen as part of his broader support for right-wing populist movements worldwide, particularly those who advocate for deregulation, free markets, and a hard stance against leftist governance.
Gates Calls for Stricter Safeguards Against Foreign Billionaire Influence
Against this backdrop, Gates told The Times that Musk’s growing political involvement is deeply concerning, urging governments to adopt stronger safeguards against foreign billionaires influencing elections.
“I think in the US, foreigners aren’t allowed to give money,” Gates said. “Other countries maybe should adopt safeguards to make sure super-rich foreigners aren’t distorting their elections.”
Musk’s political maneuvering has drawn comparisons to media moguls like Rupert Murdoch, who have used their influence to shape political outcomes globally.
Musk’s increasing engagement in global politics has been amplified by his growing alliance with Trump.
After Trump’s re-election victory in November, Musk became an informal adviser, participating in calls with world leaders, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. He has also been appointed to lead Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a commission designed to slash government spending and eliminate regulations.
Musk was a major financial backer of Trump’s campaign, reportedly spending at least $277 million supporting Trump and other Republican candidates in 2024. His financial and ideological alignment with right-wing populist movements across different countries suggests a coordinated effort to shift global politics toward deregulation, nationalism, and limited government oversight.
Musk Remains Unapologetic as Global Political Tensions Rise
While Bill Gates has expressed alarm at Musk’s growing political influence, Musk has shown no signs of backing down.
From challenging left-wing leaders in South America to endorsing right-wing movements in Europe and the United States, Musk has positioned himself as a political disruptor—leveraging his vast wealth, social media platform, and influence over emerging industries to reshape global politics.
His critics argue that his interventions are reckless and self-serving, designed to protect his business interests while advancing a political ideology that benefits billionaires and corporate elites.
“I thought the rules of the game were you picked a finite number of things to spout about that you cared for, focused on a few critical things, rather than telling people who they should vote for,” Gates said.
“If someone is super smart, and he is, they should think how they can help out. But this is populist stirring,” Gates added.
Supporters, however, see him as a champion of free speech and deregulation, unafraid to challenge the status quo.
What’s shocking is that Bill Gates, the most prolific serial killer in history, is allowed to continue killing mass numbers of humans on this planet, including children. Gates needs the death penalty for all the premeditated murders that he has committed over the years. If the government and law enforcement doesn’t get that dangerous serial killer off the streets, they should be held responsible for the deaths which occur. They have just as much blood on their hands as Gates does.