With his endorsement of Donald Trump and the subsequent Republican victories in the 2024 election, tech billionaire Elon Musk has only seen his influence grow. Naturally, that has made Democrats and their press allies very angry because only their wealthy supporters are allowed to get involved in politics.
ALSO SEE: The Five Words Tweeted By Elon Musk That Have the Global Elite Reaching for Their Smelling Salts
Of course, no one should be surprised at Musk’s renewed interest in cleaning out Washington. The Joe Biden-led Securities and Exchange Commission has repeatedly targeted the entrepreneur, and yet another investigation was re-opened on December 13th. Oddly enough, the government didn’t find anything wrong with Musk back when he was an outspoken liberal. That’s just a coincidence, I’m sure.
Regardless, things escalated Monday on CNN when Wolf Blitzer brought on Anthony Scaramucci to deliver what sounded like a mob boss threat against Musk.
SCARAMUCCI: Well listen, he’s got a very powerful role. He’s got a $44 billion megaphone. He’s got over 200-plus million followers. He was instrumental in that election. There was stuff that Elon Musk did in Pennsylvnia alone, I think, that helped the president win that election so he has a very big voice.
I think the problem for Elon Musk, though, is that he’s got a little bit of Potomac fever, and so you think you’re going to go to Washington and change Washington. That’s Potomac fever.
He’s just got to be very, very careful because he’s making enemies that he doesn’t realize, and the incentives in Washington are totally different than those in business, and so everybody’s incentivized in a different and sometimes irrational way, and I think the power that he’s wielding right now, Washington has a great neurological system, and I think they’ll find a way to rebut him
So I’d say to Elon Musk, not that he would listen to me, stick to business, you’ve done great, you’ve made a couple hundred million dollars since the election. Lay off the gas on politics a little bit because these people can hurt you, and there’s no need for you to get hurt. You’re doing so well in life.
Shorter Scaramucci: That’s a nice life you’ve built there. It’d be a real shame if something were to happen to it.
Look, I don’t know exactly what the motivation behind the above excerpt was. Perhaps Scaramucci is genuinely concerned for Musk’s safety and success, though I tend to doubt it. Either way, so much that is wrong with Washington is revealed in what is said. An American citizen should not have to fear the “enemies” he’s making by demanding the government function with some level of sanity and efficiency. Yet, that’s exactly the situation Musk (and others) find themselves in by daring to push back on the status quo.
That people in the government can “hurt you,” as Scaramucci says, for crossing them is exactly why Washington must be reformed. Dismiss attempts to do so as “Potomac fever,” but things will certainly never change if no attempt is made to change them. Americans are dealing with a corrupt, deeply entrenched behemoth, and it’s not going to give up power quietly. That’s why Musk should not “lay off the gas on politics.” If anything, it’s time to go even harder.
The easiest thing in the world for Musk to do would be to retreat to his successful companies and rake in cash over the next four years of economic growth. That he’s taking such a public, direct role in trying to reform the government speaks to his motivations. If they were purely selfish, he’d just do what every other billionaire does, which is hide in the shadows while getting crony capitalist handouts. That would be a heck of a lot less risky for him both physically and financially.
Lastly, why is Anthony Scaramucci still on CNN? What exactly does he offer in terms of commentary given his track record? Right now, CNN is suffering its lowest ratings since its inception. Perhaps upping the quality of its guests would help. Scott Jennings can’t be expected to save the network himself.
