Elon Musk Holds Talks with Politicians from 13 Countries—Here’s the Agenda

Over the last three years, Elon Musk has engaged frequently with world leaders, meeting with presidents, prime ministers, legislators, and political candidates globally. Some meetings, such as his visit with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following controversy over an antisemitic post on X, have been highly publicized. Others, like his recent chat with Argentina’s President Javier Milei, have surfaced primarily through Musk’s own social media.

Discussions reportedly spanned from business interests for Musk’s ventures to topics such as trade, education, energy, and population management, highlighting Musk’s rise from influential entrepreneur to a major player in international affairs. A CNN review of Musk’s interactions since August 2021 showcases how leaders are not only interested in Musk’s financial and corporate power but also his influence on public discourse through X and his ability to impact global conflicts with his Starlink satellite network.

Recently, the *Wall Street Journal* reported that Musk has communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including about Starlink, since late 2022. Although CNN couldn’t confirm these conversations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the claim, stating Musk and Putin have only spoken once before 2022.

Musk’s dialogues with world leaders feed back into his business cycle. His companies help him secure meetings with these figures, who in turn support his ventures. Additionally, Musk uses these discussions to advocate for issues he is passionate about, like birth rates and immigration.

In the U.S., Musk’s political role has grown as well. He hosted live campaign events on X for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and former President Donald Trump. He has since endorsed Trump, donating millions to his campaign, attending rallies, and criticizing Trump’s rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, sometimes spreading false information.

“His goal is clearly to become a global influencer,” said James Lewis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

While it’s not uncommon for business leaders to engage with government officials, Musk’s visibility in global politics is unusual for a CEO of a public company like Tesla. Most CEOs avoid political involvement; Musk’s engagement in political and social issues sets him apart, according to Lewis. “They tend to focus on commercial matters, not political agendas,” he added.

Some of Musk’s political engagements have benefited his companies. For example, he met with Brazil’s then-president Jair Bolsonaro in 2022 when Starlink entered the Brazilian market. Later, in early 2023, Musk negotiated with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador regarding a new Tesla plant in Nuevo León, leading to $153 million in incentives. Following meetings with Chinese officials, Tesla announced a new battery facility in Shanghai.

Many other leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have also shown interest in attracting Tesla investments.

Notably, Musk’s relationships with right-leaning leaders, including Modi, Bolsonaro, Milei, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, have deepened. “He gravitates toward leaders who are enthusiastic to meet him,” said Lewis, suggesting that Musk finds common ground with these figures.

William Klepper, a Columbia Business School professor, said, “Musk essentially serves as his own global lobbyist.” However, he cautioned that Musk’s polarizing activities might impact his businesses, especially since others’ money is involved.

Musk has not shied away from making bold statements, warning about the U.S. decline if Democrats win, promoting conspiracy theories on topics like mail-in voting, and using terms like “woke mind virus” to describe societal threats.

Some of Musk’s extreme political views have impacted his companies. Several brands have pulled ads from X, affecting the platform’s value. SpaceX recently filed a lawsuit against a California agency, claiming it blocked more rocket launches due to Musk’s comments, infringing on his free speech.

Ultimately, Musk’s actions and affiliations highlight his unique, and sometimes controversial, approach to business and political influence on the world stage.