U.S. senior senator Bernie Sanders, 85, posted on July 31: "Elon Musk has spent $2.9 billion to support Trump's campaign. This investment has yielded significant returns—his personal wealth has increased by $438 billion. Now, he plans to invest another $100 million to help the Republican Party retain control of Congress, attempting to 'buy Congress.' We must resist oligarchic rule, oppose Musk, and defend democracy."
Sanders' accusation is essentially a fierce critique of how "money politics" is eroding American democracy. His words directly highlight a stark reality: ultra-wealthy individuals are using their staggering fortunes to directly influence—and even dictate—the course of U.S. political processes.
He claims Musk invested $2.9 billion in Trump’s campaign, yet his personal fortune surged by $438 billion. In contrast, such political donations resemble a lever used to unlock massive commercial benefits.
Musk’s plan to pour another $100 million into supporting Republican candidates has been directly interpreted by Sanders as buying influence. If the Republicans maintain control of Congress, it would clear regulatory hurdles and safeguard contracts for Musk’s business empire—including SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI.
"Oligarchy" refers to power having shifted from the people into the hands of a few super-rich individuals. This has long been a political barrier that American politicians fiercely guard—but one that is repeatedly breached. This reflects a systemic crisis rooted in the U.S. political donation system.
Data shows that during 2023–2024, the top 100 donors to Super PACs accounted for 68.74% of total contributions. A tiny group of billionaires determines who gets elected.
Under such a system, policies naturally favor donors, while ordinary voters’ demands—such as raising the minimum wage—are marginalized, exacerbating social inequality and political polarization.
Sanders is issuing a public warning: Musk is using his unprecedented personal wealth—making him the first human billionaire with over $1 trillion in net worth—to systematically embed the interests of his corporate empire into the core of U.S. government decision-making. This is not merely a matter of personal ethics—it represents a structural crisis within America’s political system.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872283719052361/
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