As Trump ushers him into diplomatic circles, Elon Musk’s power and reach will only grow. He isn’t restrained by political red tape or elections, and he isn’t bound to national allegiances. He’s a one-man state, where Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink are his embassies, his envoys to the world.
Elon Musk has always been the poster boy for ambition, audacity, and a hefty dose of chaos. But now, he’s setting the stage for an even bigger spotlight—one that may ultimately make him the most powerful man on the planet. As if his influence through Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and the chaos he stirred at Twitter weren’t enough, Musk has now made his way into the heart of global politics, thanks to a tight connection with President-elect Donald Trump. The business titan has been in Trump’s orbit for years, but his status has now upgraded from eccentric ally to vital confidant.
Imagine it: Musk, who once trolled politicians on Twitter, is now playing poker with the big boys—dictating global communication infrastructure with Starlink, pivoting the automotive industry toward electric cars, and aiming to establish a multi-planetary human race. And unlike politicians, he doesn’t need approval ratings or votes. With just a tweet, he moves markets. With a meeting, he reshapes national priorities.
This isn’t merely about Musk’s billions. It’s about how he wields his empire—crossing boundaries and cozying up with global leaders to do things governments can’t, won’t, or are too slow to accomplish. The recent meeting between Musk, Trump, and Ukrainian President Zelensky tells us all we need to know about his new level of clout. Musk has become something of a go-to guy for international crises, providing internet access to Ukraine through Starlink when they needed it most. Who else can step into a war zone and solve a problem that has confounded entire nations?
But that’s Elon Musk in a nutshell—both disruptor and diplomat, both mad genius and the man who just might take humanity to Mars. And as Trump ushers him into diplomatic circles, Musk’s power and reach will only grow. He isn’t restrained by political red tape or elections, and he isn’t bound to national allegiances. He’s a one-man state, where Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink are his embassies, his envoys to the world. In Musk’s world, national borders look quaint, and the question isn’t “What does my country need?” but rather, “What does the human race need?”
And let’s not forget, Musk’s plans don’t stop at national infrastructure and space. Musk sees himself as something more than a CEO—he’s a futurist with nearly every card in his hand. To him, taking humanity to the stars isn’t some far-fetched fantasy; it’s his mission. From here on Earth to some distant Martian colony, Musk is building a future that reshapes nearly everything we know.
It’s like watching a sci-fi novel come to life. Remember the classic trope of the tech billionaire who buys a country or launches a private space empire? Except Musk didn’t buy a country—he’s transcending them. His agenda is broader and bolder than a president’s; he’s aiming to change how we think, live, and move. And while many balked at his spending spree on Twitter—now X—that platform could become a new kind of public square, unbounded by any one nation’s ideals. You may not love what Musk does or how he does it, but the sheer scope of his ambitions is undeniable.
We’re witnessing a man who, in less than two decades, has gained control of industries that were once the domain of governments: space exploration, defense communications, sustainable energy. Now he’s meeting world leaders and advising them on how to use his infrastructure in ways they hadn’t imagined. In a way, Musk has become a private-sector diplomat, crossing borders and influencing policy without needing to sit through a single election or approval hearing. Imagine the likes of Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates trying to do the same. Musk’s playing field, and his moves on it, are unique.
Yet there’s a twist. While he’s undoubtedly one of the world’s most prominent advocates for a space-faring future and a green energy economy, Musk is no traditional hero of the tech world. He’s brash, outspoken, and not always aligned with his contemporaries on issues of social justice or climate change. He’s often politically incorrect, tweeting opinions that have stirred controversy, and drawing the ire of activists. But his unpredictability is part of his power. In a world dominated by predictable bureaucrats, Musk’s daring and willingness to act without consensus make him a wildcard.
What does this mean for the rest of us? With Musk at the helm of so many pivotal innovations and tied so closely to those in power, he has the power to shape policy, infrastructure, and even global ideology. His reach could affect everything from energy policy to internet freedom to space law. Musk may just redefine the word “citizen,” taking us from nation-states to a world where citizenship is something that Musk himself is creating, an “Earthling” identity guided by his vision of a multi-planetary future.
So where does this end? Nobody knows, and that’s the point. Musk thrives in uncharted territory. Unlike other business moguls who reached their zenith and retreated, Musk keeps pushing the boundary. Maybe he’ll keep collaborating with Trump. Or maybe he’ll go even further, creating his own alliances, his own sphere of influence. For Musk, this isn’t just about accumulating power—it’s about remaking civilization. And love him or hate him, he might just succeed.
TONY CASTRO, the former award-winning Los Angeles columnist and author, is a writer-at-large and the national political writer for LAMonthly. org. He is the author of the forthcoming novel The Book of Marilyn. He can be reached at tony@tonycastro.com.
