Elon Musk, the enigmatic billionaire and founder of some of the world’s most innovative companies, is a name that has become synonymous with technological progress. Whether it’s revolutionizing the electric car industry through Tesla, launching reusable rockets with SpaceX, or providing global internet connectivity through Starlink, Musk’s influence on the world is undeniable. However, recent developments, particularly Musk’s alignment with former President Donald Trump and his potential role as the commission leader to root out government waste, raise serious questions about the concentration of power in one individual’s hands.
History has shown us that the results can be catastrophic when too much power is given to a single person — no matter how visionary they may be. Musk’s far-reaching influence over technology, information, and potentially even government policy makes him one of the most dangerous men alive. This editorial will explore why Musk’s unchecked power is alarming and how historical examples provide chilling parallels to what could happen if we fail to heed the warning signs.
The Trump-Musk Commission: A New Chapter of Unchecked Power
In October 2024, former President Donald Trump announced at the Economic Club of New York that he would appoint Elon Musk to lead a commission on government waste if re-elected. The commission’s mission is to fully audit federal spending and “totally eliminate fraud and improper payments.” Musk himself has publicly voiced his support for the initiative, calling it “badly needed” and adding that taxpayers’ money should be spent “in a good way.”
While the commission’s stated goal of reducing government waste is commendable — after all, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported $247 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2022 alone — the appointment of Musk raises significant concerns. Musk’s track record of wielding influence over multiple industries, markets, and political discourse presents troubling parallels to past figures who amassed unchecked power, with devastating consequences.
Throughout history, the consolidation of power into the hands of a single individual has often led to disastrous outcomes. One of the most infamous examples is Napoleon Bonaparte, whose meteoric rise from military leader to Emperor of France reshaped Europe at the turn of the 19th century. Napoleon’s centralization of power and control over the French government allowed him to expand his empire but ultimately led to widespread destruction across the continent. His overreach and ambition culminated in the Napoleonic Wars, which devastated Europe and led to his eventual downfall. In many ways, Musk’s growing influence, especially through projects like Starlink and X, mirrors the early stages of Napoleon’s ascent — an individual who believes he can reshape the world but whose unchecked ambition could lead to unintended consequences.
Another historical example is the rise of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst in the early 20th century. Like Musk, Hearst had unprecedented control over public discourse through his vast media empire. Hearst used his newspapers to manipulate public opinion, stoking nationalism and sensationalism to sell papers. His role in pushing the United States toward the Spanish-American War through exaggerated reporting — what we now call “yellow journalism” — is a stark reminder of the dangers of concentrated media power. While Musk operates in the realm of technology rather than traditional media, his control over Twitter (now X) allows him to shape public discourse in ways that could similarly sway public opinion and even national policy. With X now functioning as a primary news source for millions, Musk’s tweets and decisions can create financial ripples or even political waves on a global scale.
A more recent example comes from the rise of Russian oligarchs in the post-Soviet era. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a small group of individuals gained control over vast swaths of the Russian economy, amassing enormous wealth and power in the process. These oligarchs, operating without meaningful checks and balances, became key influencers in the political sphere, supporting or opposing leaders based on their financial interests. Elon Musk’s influence is eerily reminiscent of this model, with his control spanning the business and the political realms. His alliance with Trump to audit the federal government could further blur the lines between private enterprise and public governance — raising the specter of a system where corporate interests dictate national policy.
One of the most immediate concerns about Musk’s growing power comes from his control over Starlink, a satellite internet service that has already launched over 4,500 satellites into orbit. The service has the potential to bring high-speed internet to underserved areas worldwide, but it also puts Musk in control of a global communication network. While his intentions may seem noble, the sheer scale of Starlink’s infrastructure means that Musk could theoretically control or limit access to the internet in specific regions — either for political, economic, or personal reasons.
In fact, we’ve already seen Musk flex this power in the context of the Ukrainian conflict. When Ukraine was using Starlink for military communications, Musk briefly restricted the service, leading to concerns about how one man could control the flow of crucial information during a war. Foreign Policy magazine noted earlier this year, “Musk’s ability to shut down or limit Starlink services could be weaponized in future geopolitical conflicts.”
This kind of power is unparalleled in modern history. Even Hearst, with his massive media empire, could not have shut down entire regions’ access to information. Musk’s ability to do so sets a dangerous precedent, especially as global conflicts become more intertwined with the digital realm.
X, Musk’s social media platform, presents another layer of concern. Musk’s decision to reinstate previously banned accounts, including those known for spreading hate speech and misinformation, highlights his willingness to put profit and popularity above social responsibility. According to a study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, hate speech incidents on X increased by 35% in the months following Musk’s acquisition of the platform. This unchecked amplification of harmful voices could have profound societal consequences, including the further polarization of political discourse and the potential for real-world violence.
Musk’s power isn’t limited to technology and communication — he has also demonstrated an alarming ability to manipulate financial markets. In 2018, Musk tweeted that he had “funding secured” to take Tesla private at $420 per share, a claim that was later revealed to be false. The tweet sent Tesla’s stock price soaring, but it also led to a $20 million fine from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The incident was a clear example of how Musk’s public statements can move markets and affect the financial well-being of millions of investors.
More recently, Musk’s tweets about cryptocurrencies have had similarly destabilizing effects. In 2021, his comments on Bitcoin and Dogecoin caused massive fluctuations in the value of these digital assets, leaving retail investors scrambling to recover losses. While Musk’s defenders argue that he is simply exercising free speech, the reality is that his words carry enormous financial weight. Allowing one individual to have such outsized influence over markets is reminiscent of past financial disasters, such as the 2008 housing crisis, when unchecked power and poor regulation led to a global economic meltdown.
Musk’s ventures into cutting-edge technologies like Neuralink, which aims to create brain-computer interfaces, and SpaceX, which seeks to colonize Mars, present ethical challenges that society has barely begun to grapple with. Neuralink’s potential to treat neurological disorders is groundbreaking, but it also raises concerns about privacy, data security, and human enhancement. If Musk controls the future of human-machine interfaces, who will regulate how this technology is used and who has access to it?
SpaceX, meanwhile, has become the de facto leader in space exploration, surpassing even NASA in some respects. Musk’s goal of colonizing Mars might seem like a noble pursuit, but it also raises questions about humanity’s responsibility to Earth. Should we really be focusing on colonizing another planet when climate change, inequality, and other pressing issues demand our attention here? By promoting space colonization, Musk may be encouraging a dangerous mindset that we can abandon our planet rather than invest in its preservation.
Elon Musk’s rise to prominence, his ability to control global communication, manipulate markets, and shape the future of technology, make him one of the most dangerous men alive today. His potential role in leading a government commission under Trump only amplifies these concerns, offering him a pathway into the very heart of American governance. The lessons of history are clear: when too much power is concentrated in one individual, the consequences can be dire.
Whether it’s Napoleon’s overreach, Hearst’s media manipulation, or the unchecked influence of Russian oligarchs, history has repeatedly shown us that unbridled power leads to instability and suffering. In the case of Musk, the stakes are even higher. His influence spans multiple industries and touches nearly every aspect of modern life. Without meaningful checks and balances, Musk’s vision for the future — while grand — could lead to a world where the rich and powerful control not just industries but entire governments, societies, and even human thought.
The world needs visionaries, but it also needs accountability. Right now, Elon Musk operates with little of the latter, making him not just a visionary but a dangerously unchecked force in an increasingly fragile world.
Warm Regards,
Christopher T. Pindella