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Your guide to what Trump’s second term for Washington, business and world means
Tom Wolfe shaped the term “master of the universe” as an ironic description of the Wall Street dealer. Elon Musk takes the idea literally. He hopes to colonize Mars.
But musk came to earth with a bump. After falling out with Donald Trump, the richest man in the world discovered that he was not even the master of Washington – let alone the universe.
Musk down is part of a global pattern. Decades of globalization have created very rich oligarchs worldwide. But if money power and political power collapse, there is only one way to bet. Politics always come to the top.
In countries that are as different as Russia, China, Saudi Arabia – and now in the USA – oligarchs that have developed independent political ambitions have been violently reminded where the real power lies.
The triumph of policy Both Marxists and high-spirited capitalists could surprise about money that politicians will always dance into the melody of the super rich.
But as Mao observed, the force flows from the barrel of the gun. Control over the organs of the state – the army, prosecutors, tax authorities – ultimately still counts more than billions in the bank.
Of course, politicians need money, especially on the way up. The elections are expensive and also the client policy of an authoritarian state. musk The financial support helped Trump to win the 2024 presidential elections.
Vladimir Putin’s rise to power in Russia was made easier by some of the richest men in the country – the hoped that he would be the guardian of the huge fortune that they had taken in the 1990s. But when he was firmly installed in the Kremlin, Putin showed the oligarchs who were boss. When Mikhail Khodorkovsky, then Russia’s richest man, started an independent political force, Putin let him arrest. Khodorkovsky served 10 years in prison. Boris Berezovsky, who also had great fortune in the jelel years, was forced to exile and died in mysterious Circumstances.
Jack Ma, then China’s richest man, rose comparatively easily. President Xi Jinping saw Mas top -class and sometimes pronounced views as a challenge. After MA had given a speech in 2020 in which the financial supervisory authorities criticized, the proportion of his ants group was suspended and MA was anything but disappeared From a public perspective. The China Communist Party had brought its place to the country’s most prominent capitalist.
Ma remained out of prison and started to make public appearances again. But Jimmy LaiA media tycoon in Hong Kong, which supported the Pro Democracy movement of the territory, is currently serving a long prison sentence.
In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, a man who was very admired by Trump, also showed that he can bring the richest men into his realm. He blocked dozens of wealthy business people in the Ritz-Carlton in Riad in 2017 -in an anti -corruption clean. Among them was Prince Waleed Bin Talal, the most famous investor in the kingdom. The episode sent a message from ruthless power that was never forgotten.
The best way for a billionaire to isolate himself from the mood of the leader of a country is to become the guide. This was the route, followed by the late Silvio Berlusconi, a controversial Tycoon who founded his own political party and served as Prime Minister in Italy for three times. Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who became Prime Minister of Georgia, followed a similar way. Trump himself used his assets to finance his entry into politics
But only a few oligarchs make the transition. And those who work on the side have to step carefully. To keep your wealth and freedom, you have to understand the limits. In India, the fabulous family of the rich ambani holds close relationships with Narendra Modi, the country’s prime minister. But they never tried to question his leadership.
Carlos Slim, the most Mexican man, has remained near a series of Mexican President, while she rarely expressed political opinions. Slims examined neutrality enabled him to keep influence regardless of the power management. He even worked with Employees, collaboration with infrastructure projects.
Many Americans would withdraw the idea that the relationship between money and power in their country can be compared with the way things are done in China, Russia, Saudi Arabia or Mexico.
After all, the United States is a long -term democracy with well -established property rights. The idea that the president could use the law to pursue a Vendetta against the country’s richest man still sounds a bit shocking. But the president has already said that Musk could lose federal contracts and warned him of “very serious consequences” if he supports the Democrats.
Some of the most eager supporters of Trump want to go much further. Steve Bannon has proposed to nationalize the SpaceX company of Musk, which plays a crucial role in federal room programs. He also asked Trump to examine Musk’s immigration status to deport him.
Expropriation? Exile? It all sounds very un -American. But that’s Trump’s America. Never say.
