Author Greg Steinmetz titled his 2015 book chronicling the life of 16th-century German financier Jacob Fugger: “The richest man who ever lived” We will never know whether biographies centuries from now will describe Elon Musk in similarly grand terms as a contemporary. But suffice to say, the richest man of this first quarter of the 21st century will leave his mark as one of the most influential figures of our time.

Elon Musk actually has a lot in common with Jacob Fugger, despite their vastly different geopolitical worlds. Both Mr. Fugger and Mr. Musk are risk-takers. Both are bold and confident. As Fugger’s biographer pointed out, the German moneylender was arrogantly bold.

Perhaps even more centrally, while Steinmetz describes Fugger as one of the true architects of modern capitalism, Musk was one of its most eligible students, using his healthy upbringing in South Africa to his advantage. He created a business empire whose components influenced virtually everyone. Government and business sectors around the world (and beyond). Among them are X (formerly Twitter), the most prominent social media giant, Tesla, the world’s leading promoter of electric vehicles, and SpaceX, which is leading the long-awaited revitalization of America’s space program. Contains.

At the time, Fuggers were looked down upon by elements of what we would accurately describe today as the “establishment,” especially the Roman Catholic Church, which held enormous power at the time. In fact, Fugger’s use of wealth and power forced the Pope to overturn centuries of doctrine and allow him to do what had previously been officially taboo: to charge interest on loans. I no longer get it.

In our time, masks have become hated by elements of our establishment, especially the mainstream media and the Democratic Party. The Democratic establishment is so fearful of Musk that his budding friendship with Donald Trump is seen as politically sinister and sinister. (Related: ‘Go back to Africa’: Mercury’s Natasha Cloud throws hilarious ignorance at Elon Musk after funding bill passes)

For Democrats, the idea that a private citizen, say Elon Musk, would dare to have a say in whether our representative Congress should continue its profligate ways unhindered has sparked condemnation among Democratic supporters in Washington. Ta. extreme left wing senator elizabeth warren A Massachusetts lawmaker wants answers about what he believes is an inappropriate, unethical, or worse relationship between the billionaire businessman and the president-elect. are.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York rioted last week. Musk is said to be colluding with “extreme MAGA Republicans” to control not only Trump but also Speaker Mike Johnson. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined in, claiming that Trump is a “puppet” of Musk.

The left’s new strategy is to try to sow discord between President Trump and Elon Musk.

By creating a narrative that Musk is actually in charge and that Trump is either breaking with Musk to silence the rumors or firing him out of jealousy, they They want to make Trump look weak. pic.twitter.com/IJhUO5Wx2J

— Wokal distance (@wokal_ distance) December 22, 2024

In response to the accusations by Warren, Jeffries, Pelosi and others, few, if any, policy leaders jumped off the giant hand of President Trump, who was plowing headlong into Inauguration Day. Ta.

For a party currently enraged by the idea that a Republican president-elect would listen to advisors and advisers who could have some influence over public policy, Democrats clearly have no interest in such an opinion. There were a certain number of CEOs who listened. people. President Franklin Roosevelt had Harry Hopkins, Harry Truman had Dean Acheson, JFK had Dean Rusk and Robert McNamara, Democratic candidate Nixon had Henry Kissinger, and Bill Clinton had had Paul Begala.

In fact, one of the most notable “advisors” to the sitting US president is none other than Edith Wilson (wife of then-President Woodrow Wilson)By all accounts, it is now confirmed that she actually served as president for several months in 1919-1920, after her husband suffered a severe debilitating stroke.

Anyone who knows Donald Trump or doesn’t know him personally, or has at least observed the way he operates, knows that he is the perfect marketer and that he follows the orders of others. I understand that it is fate’s job to force things. Both he and Musk are descendants of markets and understand what markets are and what they should be.

So please don’t give us any false anguish over the fact that President-elect Trump is actually heeding the advice of one of the world’s most visionary and bold business leaders of the early 21st century.cent century. Also remember that it could be worse. Thank your lucky stars President Trump isn’t listening to the likes of Disney’s hyper-woke CEO Bob Iger, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, and Socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Bob Barr served as a member of Georgia’s 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He served as a federal prosecutor in Atlanta from 1986 to 1990 and was an employee of the CIA in the 1970s. He currently practices law in Atlanta, Georgia and serves as president of the National Rifle Association.