What public figure do you disagree with the most?
At first, I would have said Donald Trump. But the more I think about it, the more Elon Musk edges him out—by a whisker made of conspiracy theories, meme reposts, and right-wing dog whistles.
Musk might be lauded as a tech visionary, but that doesn’t excuse what feels like an increasingly dangerous influence. His apparent flirtation with far-right, and arguably even fascist-leaning groups, is deeply troubling. It’s not just a matter of “free speech absolutism” anymore—it’s about platforming harmful ideologies under the guise of innovation and disruption.
He’s used his immense wealth not just to shape industries, but to seemingly shape political discourse. The idea that he’s literally giving money away to users on X (formerly Twitter) who align with certain political views and then amplifying them with algorithmic preference? That doesn’t feel like democracy—it feels like manipulation dressed up as benevolence.
And while we’re at it—Musk’s commentary on UK politics, which ranges from ill-informed to outright inflammatory, is another reason I struggle to respect him. No one asked for his hot takes on the NHS or British immigration policy, yet here we are, watching him stir the pot from thousands of miles away.
Then there’s what X itself has become: a minefield of Musk propaganda, conspiratorial nonsense, and a noticeable rise in hate speech and misinformation. What used to be a somewhat chaotic but functional public square now feels more like a tech bro’s personal echo chamber.
So yes—Elon Musk. I disagree with him not just on one issue, but on a long list of them, ranging from how he handles power to how he seems to be reshaping digital spaces in profoundly unhealthy ways.
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