Elon Musk (L) with Donald Trump (R) (Image: AP/Brandon Bell) Like Lynx deodorant, wet dreams and the comedian Jimmy Carr, libertarianism is meant to be a phase men grow out of by at least their late teens. Elon Musk, however, appears to be growing more adolescent as he ages. His “small government” ideology is obviously blinkered, conveniently skating over the billions in taxpayer loans and contracts he has received.
Nonetheless, it is increasingly central to both his political and business decisions. Indeed, he is emerging as the leader of an extreme libertarian faction within US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team. Can DOGE save some coin? Murdoch to Musk: How global media power has shifted from the moguls to the big tech bros Read More All Republican factions seem to agree on reducing immigration and “wokeness”.
But whereas the “national conservatives” led by Vice President-elect JD Vance are invigorated by economic protectionism, Musk appears more excited about deregulation and slashing public service jobs. His intellectual influences appear to be arch free-marketeer Milton Friedman and President of Argentina Javier Milei , who is famous for taking a literal chainsaw to government spending. This would merely be sad, if Musk weren’t edging closer to real political power.
On one hand, Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a sham “department”, a made-up office without congressional oversight. It has no defined powers, in con.