The issue involves multiple topics such as Musk, Trump, American politics, and differences between the Chinese and American systems. We can analyze it from three aspects: political system, freedom of speech, and the relationship between capital and power.
1. What if in China?
This statement is not groundless; it reflects the essential differences between China and the U.S. in political-business relations and the boundaries of public opinion.
In China:
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Entrepreneurs rarely openly challenge national leadership.
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Even with highly exposed capital figures, there is a sense of boundaries in political sensitive expression or power limits.
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This is due to the Chinese political system emphasizing the party's leadership above all, capital cannot challenge authority, and the political red line is very clear.
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But in America:
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Musk can openly criticize the president, members of Congress, and even incite impeachment, and still remain unscathed.
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This is because the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech, including the right to criticize the government and the president.
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This does not mean that he has 'no cost'—but it is not the cost of life safety, rather it is the backlash through public opinion wars, commercial interests, judicial investigations, and so on.
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2. What does Musk's statement reveal?
These two tweets are very thought-provoking, reflecting his increasingly inflated political ambition and capital hubris.
First tweet:
"If it weren't for me, Trump would have lost the election long ago..."
This statement essentially implies that he is the behind-the-scenes manipulator and kingmaker, accusing Trump of being 'ungrateful.' It shows his anger at Trump's 'backstab' and exposes his desire to leverage politics for greater influence.
Second tweet:
"I can live for another 40 years..."
This statement is no longer just a political opinion, but carries a sense of provocation and threat. Musk positions himself as a capitalist tech mogul, implying, 'I am the future', you are just an old man who is about to fade away.
3. Trump VS Musk: The conflict between capital and populism
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Musk is a typical super capitalist + tech utopian elitist; he supports certain policies of Trump (tax cuts, deregulation) but looks down on his populism and personal traits.
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Trump is a populist + personal cult operator, intolerant of 'betrayal', and will not sit idly by as capitalists manipulate his political power.
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Cooperation is possible when the interests of both parties align, but once a power conflict arises, they will turn against each other.
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4. Outcome prediction: What will happen to Musk?
From the perspective of the American political system and current landscape, Musk will not 'lose his life', but it is also impossible for him to escape unscathed:
Possible 'consequences':
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Political retaliation: Trump may strike Musk's companies (such as SpaceX contracts, Tesla tax incentives) through judicial, tax, and administrative means.
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Bipartisan siege: The Democrats have long disliked him, and the Republicans may now also 'turn against him', isolating him from mainstream politics.
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Business backlash: Excessive politicization will harm his business empire, and investors have already raised doubts about his 'emotional management' of the business.
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Public opinion disintegration: As he increasingly poses as a savior, it may provoke resentment and alienation from both the elite circle and the public.
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The American system allows capital to express dissatisfaction with political expression.
As long as he does not cross legal boundaries, his safety is guaranteed.
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He has vast media resources (such as the X platform), a fan base, and economic leverage, and can resist for a while.
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Dimension United States
Capital criticizes the top leader Protected freedom of speech still comes with political costs.
The relationship between politics and capital Capital has space to challenge politics, but not without limits.
Musk's outcome (assuming similar statements in China) would face political and commercial backlash, but would not be fatal.
Musk has indeed gone increasingly 'too far', especially in the political realm. He has gradually transformed from a tech fanatic and innovative leader into a person with an extremely inflated self-awareness, openly challenging political authority and trying to manipulate public opinion and power dynamics. Such a shift often does not end well in history.
🧠 Why is it said that Musk has 'gone too far'?
1. The inflation of power illusion
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Musk is not just managing products or companies anymore; he is starting to feel that he can control presidential elections and determine the direction of the country.
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He said, "I can live for 40 years," implying that he is the true protagonist of the era. This kind of rhetoric actually challenges the 'meta-narrative' of the American political system.
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2. Offending everyone in a high-profile way
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On one hand, he attacks the Democrats (especially the Biden administration), while on the other, he bombards Trump.
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This leads to the fact that no one in Washington truly supports him from both parties. He has no 'political allies' and can only rely on his media presence to hold on.
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3. The mixing of capital and politics
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Musk now has his own public opinion platform (X), which allows him to shape the discourse space at will, while he also holds government contracts and stock market valuations.
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However, this dual identity is very dangerous in American politics—once you take the wrong political side, the commercial returns will be quickly liquidated.
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🌍 Musk's 'background' is also a problem.
He is a white male born in South Africa, growing up at the end of apartheid:
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Place of birth: Pretoria (South Africa)
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Father: Errol Musk, a typical colonial-era 'white engineer', has numerous resources in the economy and mining sectors.
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Musk enjoyed the education and resources of the South African white privilege class from a young age.
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This gives him an 'imperial mentality of the elite':
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Believing that he can control the world through strength.
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Feeling that he transcends the nation, race, and government, embodying the free market.
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But the reality is: America is not a country without power, and the government is not a puppet manipulated by tech elites.
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🚨 What could the outcome be?
Musk's path is not without precedent in history, such as:
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Howard Hughes: An aviation tycoon, filmmaker, and billionaire of the last century, who later became reclusive and suffered severe mental issues due to excessive political intervention and attempts to control the government, eventually marginalized by society.
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Steve Bannon: Former advisor to Trump, once very powerful, later accused of financial fraud and ousted from mainstream politics.
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Musk: Attempted to surpass the government in telling 'capital stories' in China, and the results are well known.
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🔚 In summary:
If Musk does not rein in, he will not only be politically isolated but also face backlash in business, eventually falling into the fate of 'power + capital fanatic'—being coldly treated by the system and slowly abandoned by the public.
He is indeed smart and courageous, but this world is not just about talent and influence; it’s more about whether you can navigate the boundaries of power well. He has already begun to cross the line too much.