Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Nick Clegg warns of Musk’s ‘outsized role’ in US politics

He suggested that Musk is moving beyond traditional political sponsorship into a more direct manipulation of the political landscape.

Nick Clegg warns of Musk’s ‘outsized role’ in US politics
Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs for Meta, speaks at the Vietnam National Innovation Center in Hanoi on October 1, 2024. (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)

FORMER deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has said that Elon Musk risks transforming from a wealthy tech entrepreneur into a potential political puppet master in the US.

Speaking on Nick Robinson's Political Thinking podcast, Clegg, now Meta's president of global affairs, expressed concerns about Musk's growing political influence.


The former Liberal Democrat leader suggested that Musk is moving beyond traditional political sponsorship into a more direct manipulation of the political landscape.

Clegg warned that Musk might transition from being a supporter to actively determining Republican Party leadership, describing this potential scenario as fundamentally different from established American democratic traditions.

"I think it will see he has a choice - he can be either an avid and well-heeled supporter... Or he can try and become a sort of political…puppet master, going well beyond Trump, deciding who the next Republican candidate should be and the one after that, and so on, so forth," he was quoted as saying.

Musk, the world's richest person and one of Trump's closest allies, met with US lawmakers Thursday (5) on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration.

President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy.

Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk's star power and intense influence in Trump's inner circle bring political clout.

Clegg, who served as deputy prime minister to David Cameron in 2010's coalition government, highlighted Musk's expansive role in the current US election cycle and potential Trump administration formation.

Addressing broader technological concerns, he also dismissed apocalyptic fears surrounding artificial intelligence. He characterised predictions of AI destroying democracy as overblown, arguing that industry safeguards provide significant protection against potential misuse.

Reflecting on his current role at Meta, Clegg maintained that combating harmful online content remains an ongoing challenge. He stressed that protecting users, particularly young people, is a continuous process that requires constant vigilance and adaptation.

After losing his Sheffield Hallam seat to Labour in the 2017 general election, Clegg pivoted from British politics to the tech world. In 2022, he secured a senior promotion from Mark Zuckerberg, assuming responsibility for policy and communication, complemented by a reported £10 million bonus in addition to his £2.7m annual salary.

More For You

My top 10 books by Nilesha Chauvet

Nilesha Chauvet

My top 10 books by Nilesha Chauvet

Eastern Eye

NILESHA CHAUVET made her mark in 2024 with her deliciously dark debut crime novel Her Two Lives.

The psychological suspense thriller revolves around a woman who cares for the elderly by day and becomes a vigilante by night. The acclaimed book grew from her love for literature.

Keep ReadingShow less
Empuraan Storm: Success, Censorship Debate & Political Attacks

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal at a press meet for L2: Empuraan

Instagram/empuraanmovie

L2: Empuraan - A film that shattered records and sparked a political storm

Few films manage to be both a record-breaking success and a lightning rod for controversy at the same time. But L2: Empuraan, the much-hyped sequel to Lucifer, has done exactly that. The Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial, starring Mohanlal, has not only rewritten and shattered box office history but also sparked a nationwide debate on censorship, political narratives, and artistic freedom.

On one hand, it’s the fastest Malayalam film to gross £5.1 million (₹50 crore) in Kerala, the first Malayalam film to cross £10.2 million (₹100 crore) overseas, and a £20.4 million (₹200 crore) club entrant within just five days. On the other hand, it has been accused of pushing a political agenda, leading to 2m 8s, 24 last-minute cuts, a legal battle, and a full-blown culture war.

Keep ReadingShow less
My playlist with Nachiket Lele

Nachiket Lele

My playlist with Nachiket Lele

POPULAR Indian Idol contestants Sayli Kamble, Nitin Kumar, and Nachiket Lele will headline a UK concert at Brentford Studios on April 19. The talented singers will perform hit songs from across the decades, including from Bollywood.

Eastern Eye caught up with Nachiket Lele ahead of the highly anticipated show and asked him to select 10 songs he loves.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hayley Atwell Reveals Tom Cruise’s Advice on Social Anxiety

Atwell explained that Cruise’s advice helped her focus on identifying the sources of her anxiety

Getty

Mission Impossible star Hayley Atwell reveals Tom Cruise's advice to overcome social anxiety

Hayley Atwell has opened up about the helpful advice Tom Cruise gave her on how to cope with social anxiety, a topic that resonates with many, including those working in the intense world of Hollywood. Atwell, known for her role as Peggy Carter in Marvel films and for starring alongside Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023), revealed how Cruise's wisdom has helped her deal with nervousness in large social gatherings, something she’s not immune to despite her prominent career.

As Atwell prepares to reprise her role in what is expected to be the last chapter of the Mission: Impossible series, The Final Reckoning, due for release in May, her reflections on social anxiety offer an insightful perspective on how even the most successful stars experience self-doubt. She recently discussed this on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, explaining how she often battles the feelings that come with being in a room full of people.

Keep ReadingShow less