Elon Musk has conceded he became consumed by politics during his tumultuous engagement with Donald Trump, including his brief stint running the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge. Speaking to the Economist in a 90-minute interview recorded at a Tesla factory in Texas, the world's richest person acknowledged overstepping in his relationship with the president.
"I got carried away, frankly," Musk said, reflecting on his $200 million financial backing of Trump's 2024 campaign and subsequent role overseeing $150 billion in federal budget cuts and mass workforce reductions. He did not elaborate further, though his tone suggested awareness of how far he had ventured into Washington power dynamics.
The confession follows an earlier admission in December when Musk told podcaster Katie Miller, wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, that he likely would not take on the Doge role again if given the choice. At that time, he said he would have preferred to focus on developing his own companies rather than dismantling federal agencies.
Yet in the Economist interview, Musk appeared energized by the political attention and influence his involvement commanded. He characterized himself as a modern-day Cassandra whose predictions would inevitably materialize, telling the outlet: "People don't realize that what I'm saying will come to pass."
The interview marked Musk's first major appearance since SpaceX's public listing in June, which briefly elevated his personal wealth to $1.25 trillion before settling around $750 billion. He used the conversation to unveil his vision of a radically transformed future shaped by artificial intelligence and robotics.
AI Will Reshape Work and Money
Musk painted a stark picture of technological change ahead. Within five years, he said, AI intelligence systems may surpass the combined intelligence of all humans. Within a decade, robots and advanced AI will handle most digital and physical labor, making human work optional rather than necessary. The merger of his AI venture with SpaceX will accelerate these developments, he suggested, with space-based datacenters powering cognitive systems capable of software programming while Tesla manufactures humanoid robots.
The transition from work to abundance will be jarring, Musk acknowledged, describing the emotional shift from exhilaration to terror. In a world where machines produce infinite goods and services, traditional economics may collapse, he argued. Money itself could become meaningless, making wealth redistribution urgent. He said he would accept paying trillions in taxes to fund "universal high income" for humans, though he also predicted governments should simply "issue people cheques" once deflation becomes the dominant economic threat.
His vision of space-based datacenters, however, has drawn warnings from experts that such infrastructure could prove catastrophic for Earth's environment and climate.
The interview took a sharper turn when Musk addressed his recent fixations on European politics and immigration. He claimed the United Kingdom faces a civil war within 20 years, a prediction rooted in concerns about immigration and cultural change that have dominated his recent social media output. When asked directly if he holds anti-Muslim views, Musk pivoted rather than answer, attacking the questioner and asserting his opposition to "rape and murder" and "rules and laws that are contrary to what we've come to accept in the west."
He defended Europe's far-right movements as composed of "normal people" seeking safe cities, secure borders, and responsible government spending. He criticized mainstream media, including the Economist itself, for mischaracterizing these movements as extreme, calling such coverage "false, misleading and nonsense."
The Economist's accompanying analysis noted that while Musk possesses a genuine track record of technological breakthroughs in electric vehicles, rockets, and satellite communications, his political views "strike many, including The Economist, as plainly bigoted." His statements reach 240 million followers on X, formerly Twitter, amplifying their reach and impact across the global information ecosystem.
Musk also addressed the Ukraine conflict, where his Starlink satellites have assisted the country's military against Russian aggression. Despite this involvement, he argued that any peace settlement should grant territorial concessions to Russia, a position at odds with the aid he has provided.
On space exploration, Musk reiterated his 2024 prediction that humans could reach Mars by 2028, a timeline far more ambitious than NASA's stated goal of a lunar return by 2028, which many analysts consider unrealistic. He closed the interview with a philosophically playful note, suggesting the universe itself might be a computer simulation created by advanced aliens, adding that his own undertakings are so ambitious they strain credibility.
Author James Rodriguez: "Musk's confession about getting too deep in politics rings hollow when the same interview shows him still wielding that influence over global debates from Ukraine to UK elections."
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