Elon Musk and the legacy of moguls in American politics

Business has been intertwined with American politics since before the nation's founding. And although unelected business leaders play a major role in financing campaigns and policy initiatives, few in recent memory have taken as personal and public a role in politics as Elon Musk.

Even before the 2024 election, the South African-born entrepreneur often interacted with the U.S. government via his companies. His el