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Senator Bernie Sanders took to social media on Wednesday to voice his frustration with the influence of billionaires in American politics, singling out President-elect Elon Musk.
Sanders criticized Musk's opposition to a bipartisan government funding agreement, warning that billionaires should not be allowed to dictate U.S. government policy.
"Democrats and Republicans spent months negotiating a bipartisan agreement to fund our government. The richest man on Earth, President Elon Musk, doesn’t like it. Will Republicans kiss the ring? Billionaires must not be allowed to run our government," Sanders posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The statement quickly went viral, reigniting the long-standing debate about the role of wealth and corporate power in American democracy. As one of the Senate’s most vocal advocates for wealth taxes and corporate accountability, Sanders has frequently criticized the political influence of billionaires like Musk, Jeff Bezos, and other tech titans.
This latest critique comes amid mounting tension over the future of the U.S. government's financial stability. The bipartisan funding agreement, which was painstakingly negotiated over the course of several months, is designed to prevent a potential government shutdown.
The deal includes key measures to fund essential services, emergency disaster relief, and healthcare provisions, among other initiatives.
Elon Musk, however, has emerged as one of the deal’s most prominent critics. Sources close to Musk say he believes the agreement contains "bloated spending" and "wasteful subsidies" for programs he opposes.
While he has not issued a formal statement on the matter, his reported opposition has sparked concern among lawmakers, especially as Musk’s influence in Washington continues to grow.
Musk, the world’s richest man and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has seen his political clout increase significantly since being elected as President of the United States. His business empire, which includes Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, has made him one of the most prominent figures on the global stage.
Critics like Sanders argue that his rise to political power underscores the growing control that billionaires have over government decisions.
Sanders' post tapped into a broader sentiment shared by progressive lawmakers who have long advocated for reducing corporate influence in U.S. politics.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also chimed in, retweeting Sanders' post and adding, "They’ll let billionaires dictate policy but tell you to 'tighten your belt' when it comes to healthcare, education, and wages."
On Capitol Hill, reactions to Sanders’ comments were mixed. Some Democrats praised his bold stance against billionaire influence, while several Republicans dismissed his remarks as “political grandstanding.”
“Billionaires have the right to voice their opinions, just like anyone else,” said Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). “This is still America, where free speech applies to everyone — rich or poor.”
Sanders, however, argued that Musk’s wealth gives him an outsized influence that ordinary Americans do not possess. In an interview following his X post, Sanders said, “When billionaires have the power to influence which bills get passed, who gets elected, and where our tax dollars go, that is not democracy — that is oligarchy.”
The debate around billionaire influence in politics isn’t new, but Musk’s entry into the political arena as President has raised fresh concerns. Since his election, Musk has been accused of pushing policies that favor the ultra-wealthy.
One controversial proposal reportedly on Musk's agenda is a tax credit for companies developing AI technologies, a move critics say would primarily benefit his own ventures, like Tesla's AI research and SpaceX’s autonomous spacecraft.
Sanders has previously pushed for higher taxes on billionaires and has called for a "wealth tax" to address economic inequality. His latest comments suggest that Musk’s rise to power has only intensified his calls for reform.
The Vermont senator has consistently advocated for policy changes aimed at reducing the wealth gap, such as Medicare for All, student loan forgiveness, and expanding workers' rights.
The public reaction to Sanders’ post has been swift and divided. Progressive voices have rallied behind his warning, calling for action to curb billionaire influence in politics. Critics, however, have accused him of using Musk as a political scapegoat and engaging in class warfare.
Regardless of one’s position, the conversation about the role of billionaires in U.S. governance has now been thrust into the spotlight once again. With Sanders leading the charge, the battle over wealth, power, and political influence is sure to intensify in the coming months.
