Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
9 June 2025 | 12:45 CAT
3 min read

The public fallout between Elon Musk and Donald Trump may seem like political theatre, but according to political analyst and journalist Qaanitah Hunter of The Debrief Network, it signals a much deeper erosion of democratic values, both in the United States and globally.

Speaking on Radio Islam International, Hunter unpacked the Musk-Trump spat, calling it more than a clash of egos. “What we saw last week was the fallout between the world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful man in a way that was akin to bullies turning on each other in a playground. Or, like I argued, it seemed like turning on each other mid-heist as they fight over how to split up the loot,” she explained.

Hunter pointed out that beyond the personal rivalry lies a disturbing truth about how money is increasingly purchasing power, blurring, if not erasing, the lines between business interests and political control. “The fallout confirmed the suspicions of what this already was: Trump sold democracy for his re-election. He was very clear about what he was selling: access to power and a piece of the power. And what Silicon Valley and Elon Musk realised was that instead of influencing the rules, you can buy your way into making the rules that govern your fortunes,” she said.

One example she highlighted included how Musk, as head of SpaceX, influenced the choice of NASA director and benefited from policy shifts under Trump that favoured electric vehicles. Musk has claimed that without his financial contributions, amounting to $300 billion, Trump would not be president. “What we are witnessing is the worst manifestation, and also concession, of the perversion of democracy for selfish gain,” she said.

From State Capture to global trend

Hunter drew parallels between the Musk-Trump dynamic and South Africa’s own state capture saga. She noted that in South Africa, we saw political donations leading to preferential state procurement. But what is happening in the U.S. now makes that look like a Google search compared to ChatGPT. This is an advanced, coordinated network of corruption for self-enrichment.

She warned that this form of governance is no longer about influence; it is outright ownership. “In Trump’s inauguration ceremony, the front rows were filled with billionaires from across Silicon Valley. They realised it is a lot more lucrative to be in the nexus of politics, making the decisions than outside trying to lobby for them,” she added.

The conversation also turned to whether business leaders should be allowed to moonlight as politicians, especially amid ongoing governance failures. “There is a growing temptation to believe that business can fix what politicians have broken. But the assumption that economic success equates to moral and political competence is deeply flawed,” she said.

Referencing a recent conversation with political economist Moeletsi Mbeki, Hunter acknowledged the logic behind wanting those who understand the economy to play a greater role in policymaking. But she issued a strong caution. “South Africa already has a billionaire president. That has not solved our problems. The ability to grow wealth does not translate to having a political backbone or making courageous decisions,” she said.

There is already talk in South African circles about figures like Patrice Motsepe being ideal candidates to ‘run the country like a business’ to deal with economic problems. “But there is no good example of this model working. If anything, the Trump-Musk fallout shows us what happens when billionaires moonlight in politics for self-gain. Trump’s fortune has doubled since he returned to office. He is now pushing for crypto regulation tailored to his own investments,” Hunter said.

A call to rethink Democracy—Not replace it with Billionaires

Hunter emphasised a clear message: while democracy needs reimagining to deliver on its promises, replacing elected leaders with the ultra-rich is not the answer.

“Yes, the current model needs work. Yes, people are angry. But to say that the solution is billionaires is not just short-sighted, it is lazy. The United States, the oldest democracy in the world, is showing us what not to do. We would be foolish not to learn from it,” she said.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Shaakira Hunter and Qaanitah Hunter, here.

For more deep dives like this, you can visit www.thedebriefnetwork.com and follow The Debrief Network on social media.