Musk has money, a pulpit, and the imprimatur of the White House. But does he actually have a plan for remaking Europe? If not, there are other Trumpians who do.
Elon Musk this week showed America’s closest allies how little he cares for the constraints and niceties of politics and diplomacy. AP
Should an erratic and trenchant tech billionaire, with the ear of an equally erratic incoming US president, be allowed to call the shots in European politics? To set the Continent’s agenda, even to become its kingmaker?
This was the question everyone in Europe was asking this week, from French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to political leaders from Spain, Britain and the Nordic nations. But the answer was already clear: X owner Elon Musk is trolling Europe, and nobody knows quite what to do about it.
Hans van LeeuwenJournalistHans van Leeuwen is The Australian Financial Review’s former Europe correspondent. He is now International Economy editor for The Telegraph UK.
