An Éminence grise or an Elon grise

(originally written in 2024)

In recent times, Elon Musk–contributor of 227 million dollars to the President-Elect Donald Trump’s former campaign—has found his new interest to pour his time and energy into. Posting fiery, provocative, and misleading words on social media—now for Europe’s politicians—instead of doing such for his cryptocurrency ‘endeavors’. 

The Tech magnate has clearly thought of himself as a new sort of online, modern Éminence grise—using his widespread influence around the world—which already led to the drastic–and convoluted rise and fall of the value of the cryptocurrency Doge. 

Clearly, he thinks that it will work for people he deemed as a fool. 

From attacking the outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz on social media—to vocally support the far-right Alternative for Germany(AfD), even going so far as to host one of the Co–Leaders of the party, Alice Wiedel on an audio livestream on X, formerly Twitter, and praising her outright.  Musk is stirring up angst and discontent in Germany, as she faces a tumultuous year ahead for the political landscape, reeling from the shock of the Magdeburg car attacks last December. With the polls looking for a snap election in February, and the AfD garnering even more support in the aftermath of the Scholtz cabinet-it remains to be seen just how much ‘grise’ influence that Musk can wield. 

Of course, Germany isn’t the only country Musk finds attractive to wield his fiery rhetoric online. The United Kingdom has recently been of the Tech magnates twisted interest. Online on the little kingdom he now owns as X, Musk has been going on a ranting tirade on how prime minister Keir Starmer, when he was the director of public prosecutions—supposedly being complicit in a complicated case of child sex grooming gangs that had come to light in 2014—by his supposedly failure to stop the matter effectively enough. Furthermore, Musk seemingly has been doing everything and anything to grease Britain's politics. For one, calling for the King, His Majesty Charles III to dissolve Parliament–a royal prerogative now used only at the request of the prime minister. Or a very flippant case that merely showed his petulant side–when he endorsed the populist Reform UK party—and then called for Nigel Farage’s resignation from the leadership soon after—when it was clear Farage would not do as Musk thought he’d do—over the case of one ‘Tommy Robinson’, as Farage himself suggested. Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a convicted criminal—and a well known far–right activist  who is currently serving his 18-month sentence—for contempt of court. Surprisingly, this violent hooligan of a man is who Musk champions for release—and it cost a rift between him and Farage. Although Farage still is open to talks from Musk—the implications are all too obvious. Musk is trying his best to influence politics internationally—and judging that there hasn’t been any words from the President-Elect Trump and his camp for his actions—perhaps one that has already been approved. 

At any regard, it remains to be seen if Musk can be the Éminence grise like the original Father du Trembly–or remain as what he is online—as an Elon grise.