The warning issued by American President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening about the risk of America falling into the hands of an oligarchy undoubtedly targeted Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, who has become the closest advisor to future President Donald Trump. However, the Biden administration has contributed to this risk.
Many officials at the White House lament the missed opportunity to cultivate Elon Musk as an ally, whose interests as an electric vehicle manufacturer have often aligned with those of the Biden administration, a staunch supporter of clean energy policies.
Furthermore, some wonder if their actions to exclude Musk may have fueled the businessman's ambition to support Trump and spend a quarter of a billion dollars on the electoral campaign. Musk, a former Democrat, did not endorse any candidate until Trump survived an assassination attempt in mid-July, notes CNN.
In other words, instead of gaining a powerful ally, Biden ended up with a formidable enemy. And it all seems to have started with an incident that Elon Musk has not forgotten, nor forgiven.
In 2021, Joe Biden organized an event dedicated to electric vehicle manufacturers. Tesla, the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, was not included, despite its significant presence in the industry. At that event, Biden praised giants like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis - despite electric vehicles representing a small part of their overall business.
According to officials involved in planning the event, Musk was left out because he did not allow Tesla workers to form a union.
A White House official likened this incident to Barack Obama's ridicule of Trump, then just a businessman, at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner, an event that reportedly prompted the Republican leader to run for president four years later.
After being excluded from the White House event, Musk expressed his discontent - and has not forgotten it since, recalling the incident last year in Pennsylvania during the election campaign.
The billionaire's mother, Maye Musk, stated that Biden's decision to exclude Musk and the support for the idea that GM is "leading the way" in electrifying cars were "the worst things that have happened" between her son and the White House.
As Musk's criticisms intensified, the White House added fuel to the fire instead of attempting to temper the businessman, further alienating him.
"They excluded some people who should not have been treated that way. They made a mistake. I think they miscalculated," a senior official said about the decision to isolate Biden from people with opposing views.
In his farewell speech delivered on Wednesday, Biden expressed concern that America would fall into the hands of an "oligarchy," targeting, without naming them, Donald Trump and the tech billionaires now aligned with him.
"I want to warn the country about some things that worry me greatly," said the Democrat.
"It's about the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of very few ultra-rich individuals and the dangerous consequences if their power is left unchecked," he stated.
"An oligarchy is taking shape in America and is concretely threatening our entire democracy, our fundamental rights, and freedoms," continued Joe Biden.
"The concentration of wealth and power undermines the sense of unity and common good," added the 46th President of the United States in his somber speech.
T.D.