CHRISTOPHER RUFO: Trump voters and Elon Musk’s founders could make a powerful alliance
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Editor’s note: The following column was originally published on City Journal.
With President-elect Donald Trump taking office later this month, it’s worth looking at how his coalition has changed.
The president-elect’s source of power—his voting base—is naturally a favorite. This was evident from the beginning. Trump has ushered in a new political class and, over the past decade, transformed the GOP into a multi-racial, working-class party. He was able to draw tens of thousands of people to stadiums and arenas and commanded avid social media following to spread his message.
Trump’s populist appeal came with a serious downside: his voters and his ideology lacked elite champions who could properly manage the White House and advance the MAGA agenda. There was Trump the president and Trump voters, but nothing in between. He lacked the middle layer needed to manage governance and negotiate with foreign power brokers.
TRUMP BLASTS BIDEN FOR LAST-MILE POLICY MOVE, CALLS OUT PRESIDENT FOR MAKING TRANSITION TOO DIFFICULT.
Now Trump has a second chance, and his coalition has seen a big change: a growing segment of the tech industry is committed to the MAGA agenda. The most notable representative of this development is the richest man in the world, Elon Musk. Hundreds of other tech leaders followed suit, donating to Trump and supporting his 2024 presidential campaign.
The tragedy of President Trump’s first term was that he was cut across the board. He was a solitary man in the White House with few outside partners and enough control over his administration. Things may be different this time.
Undoubtedly some of this is self-serving. Tech professionals fear taxes, regulations, antitrust, and other restrictions that may have been part of Kamala Harris’ agenda. But part of it is perception. Many figures on the right, including Musk, have a real distaste, even disgust, for “woke” politics and would like to see an already developed, liberal, and growth-oriented American economy. Some tech leaders were early adopters in supporting Trump, while others came only recently, after it was safe. But the overall message is clear: the tech industry gambled on Trump and, with his election victory, looks set to benefit not only financially but psychologically.
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Trump will benefit, too. Musk controls X, the world’s most important news platform. Pro-Trump venture capitalists are involved in the most important and powerful companies. And using Tech Right operatives to work for his administration will give Trump greater control over the structures around him and under him.
The tragedy of President Trump’s first term was that he was cut across the board. He was a solitary man in the White House with few outside partners and enough control over his administration.
Things may be different this time.
The public is unlikely to fall prey to another round of media scaremongering. In the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump showed more intelligence and restraint than he has ever shown in his political career. And Musk could bring in tech and financial elites who have long embraced Republicans but shunned Trump.
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The tech-populist partnership comes with risks. Over the Christmas holidays, for example, many of Trump’s base and the Tech Right used H-1B visas. Populists are outraged by the influx of foreign tech workers into domestic companies, and tech experts say many of these immigrants help spur economic growth. These disputes will be resolved later.
Right now, the alliance seems to hold more promise than danger. Trump can mobilize his dedicated base, while the Tech Right can help the administration staff and advance the president’s message institutionally. The success of Trump’s second presidency may depend on the success of this relationship.
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