this post was submitted on 02 Jan 2025
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politics

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Summary

Yale historian Tim Snyder warned of billionaire Elon Musk's growing influence over Donald Trump, highlighting Musk's far greater wealth and financial backing of Trump’s re-election campaign.

According to Snyder, “Trump is a little guy, and Musk is a big guy when it actually comes to having money.”

Snyder argued that Trump, lacking substantial personal wealth, risks becoming financially dependent on Musk, who could wield disproportionate influence.

He cautioned that Musk’s monetary power allows him to shape Trump’s actions and decisions, raising concerns for Trump’s allies.

Snyder emphasized that Musk’s wealth and control over Trump could undermine the president-elect’s autonomy and create lasting dependencies.

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[–] Asafum@feddit.nl 77 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's almost as if enormous wealth is the larger issue here...

They come so close.

Who cares if someone can buy Trump specifically? The problem is people with enormous wealth can buy governments.

:/

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

You don't have to even be rich to buy politicians. Have a look at how very little is donated to them. Corporations that gross billions will drop $50,000, and that's rather large.

I saw, with my own eyes, a local guy buy a city councilwoman with a $1,000 check. That was chicken change to that man. Next cycle or two, he was on the council.

[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago

The problem is people with enormous wealth can buy governments.

It sadly has been like this for a long time. Now they are doing it, without any concern of keeping it behind doors.

It's like they do really believe in climate warming, know how fucked earth is and are squeezing all the money they can, before retiring forever to their fortresses, built in the last areas that will succumb to climate warming.

Leaving the rest of the world ( 99% of it ) to look after themselves, without functioning governments and prone to kill one another for that last drop of water.

[–] nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 78 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This is literally why presidential candidates used to release their tax returns. Maga didn't care that their president was for sale.

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 21 points 2 days ago (1 children)

He was initially trying to market himself as so rich that he couldn't be bought. But with all his conflicts of interest, the best he could deliver was to be the self-bribing candidate. And he still took bribes, so he didn't even deliver that.

[–] activ8r@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

See if you guys know that then why is it still allowed?

Then again I'm from the UK so maybe people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

their president was for sale

In fairness, all politicians are for sale. That's what campaign contributions are: people who plow money into a candidate expect a service in return.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 47 points 2 days ago

Trump has no friends.

[–] Australis13@fedia.io 28 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io 3 points 2 days ago

Thank You for posting this link.

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 16 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

I'm Mister nobody. But every morning, I look in the mirror and I think "I did right by my family, friends and my community, I do my job honestly and I hurt nobody to exist."

I'll go to my grave a complete unknown, but looking at myself in the mirror and finding that I'm a decent human being - as human beings go - is important to me.

And so I don't know how people like Trump or Musk live in their own skin. I'm guessing they never look at themselves in the mirror, else they'd be ashamed. And yeah, I know feeling shame is alien to them. Yet.. How do they live like that? It must be something special to be a terrible human being and not realize it even a little bit...

I often wonder if the latest Trump offspring - Barron Trump - will some day reveal himself to be critical of his terrible father. Unlike the other two morons, he hasn't said much yet and he's young. It would rekindle my faith in humanity if he turned out better than his shite siblings.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 day ago
[–] blattrules@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago

My guess is that Trump lacks the critical thinking skills to actually examine himself in a mirror, so when he does, he just thinks he’s great.

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 10 points 2 days ago

what did they expect? did they think they could suck that dick for free???

[–] Yodan@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago

Lol trump has no friends only temporary allies. If he cannot extract use out of you today, then you are yesterday's news. The man with the megaphone and the power to monitor/influence society is the most useful person in the room currently.