She believes he is more kind than the public image he presents. She defends him, calling him a “genius” who has been unfairly portrayed as a “monster.” Yet, the bond between tech mogul Elon Musk and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is now causing significant turmoil in the country.
Discussions about Musk’s influence have been a major topic in Italian politics for days. A editorial cartoon depicted him as a gladiator claiming the Colosseum as his own.
To meet President-elect Donald Trump in person last weekend was no consolation to the critics.
No amount of Italian money should be worth betraying our principles to secure a friendship with an American billionaire, particularly if it involves compromising on our sovereignty,” said Elly Schlein, leader of the opposition Democratic Party. “Italy will not be bought out.
In Italy, he faces criticism for meddling in domestic affairs and backing right-wing politicians. However, he has surprisingly found a powerful supporter in a far-right politician currently in power, who is poised to take center stage on the international scene.
Italy serves as a precedent for how Elon Musk’s foray into politics could ultimately benefit his business interests significantly. Meanwhile, his rapport with the Italian prime minister could be a bellwether for what Americans might see as Musk takes on a position within the incoming Trump administration.
Italy’s first female prime minister has developed a unique political image, differentiating herself from her party’s neo-fascist origins, the Brothers of Italy.
She received high praise for her leadership abilities accompanied with a commendation.
While in Paris last month, before traveling to Florida, Trump expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “This is very exciting. I’m joining forces with an amazing woman, the prime minister of Italy. She’s really made a powerful impression in Europe.
Italian MEP Andrea Di Giuseppe, who represents Italians in North America for Meloni’s party, referred to her as “the bridge that Europe needs with Trump.” He believes Italians should be thankful for her connections to Elon Musk as well.
Here is the paraphrased text:
Elon Musk and Giorgia Meloni first made contact in July 2023, at a gathering set up by Andrea Stroppa, a friend of Musk from Italy, and Nicola Porro, an Italian journalist who has been acquainted with Meloni for a long time.
In interviews, both men stated that their goal was to combine two individuals they regarded as having similar views and perspectives.
I believe Giorgia identified with his views,” Porro stated. “The fact that he’s critical of the culture of social awareness and the emphasis on being politically correct would be a key bonding point between the two of them.
According to Stroppa, Musk and Meloni talked about a variety of subjects, such as artificial intelligence and their mutual appreciation for the book “Lord of the Rings,” which Meloni’s party has used as a comparison to the right wing’s struggle against the left. Stroppa stated that Musk expressed a great interest in Italy and expressed worries about the effect of migration on the country.
He views illegal immigration as a significant threat to a nation he believes serves as the foundation of Western culture,” Stroppa stated. “Many ordinary Italians share his sentiments.
In December 2023, Musk spoke at the Atreju festival, a fantasy-themed event inspired by the character from “The Neverending Story” that benefited Italy’s Meloni administration. During his appearance, he brought up Italy’s low birth rate, emphasizing the need for Italy to encourage its citizens to reproduce in order to preserve the country’s cultural heritage.
The relationship between Musk and Meloni gained prominence in the fall, following a glowing introduction Musk gave at the Atlantic Council in New York. It was then that he expressed his admiration for her inner beauty and she responded by thanking him for the “precious genius for the era in which we live.”
However you want to interpret the photos, we can agree that it’s a tender moment between them.
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He believes that his dedication and foresight can serve as a valuable asset for both the United States and Italy.
What type of resource is gradually becoming clearer.
Italian Prime Minister Meloni told reporters on Thursday that she had never spoken to Elon Musk about a potential SpaceX contract, and argued that the current discussions were taking place in the context of the national interest rather than as a result of personal friendships or political ideologies. While acknowledging that working with a private company on a security agreement was far from ideal, she noted that SpaceX has demonstrated advanced technology that enables secure communication on a national and interplanetary level.
Neither Elon Musk nor SpaceX issued a response to our inquiries.
A government official, who was not authorized to publicly disclose details of the discussions, stated that there are still differing views within the Italian government regarding the proposed deal. This official expressed worry that any initial agreement allowing the Italian government to use SpaceX satellites could potentially lead to them being used for consumer internet services. Such a move could encroach on the traditional turf of Italy’s telecommunications companies and provide Elon Musk with a significant opportunity to dominate the market.
We’re at risk of a huge concentration of power unless European companies and competitors to Musk’s ventures step up their efforts,” warned Vittorio Colao, a former Italian cabinet minister and ex-boss of telecom giant Vodafone Europe. “When this dominant player has 10,000 to 12,000 satellite communications assets, while others have just a few hundred, the game will all but be over.
I am confident that the government will move forward with this plan because taking care of the well-being of its citizens is a fundamental responsibility.
This will have a lot of interest globally, especially from other European countries that will want to use it as a model or adopt it for their own purposes.
Some people have expressed worry that a wealthy individual with strong ideological views, such as Musk, could gain access to sensitive data in Italy.
Some people are skeptical about the reported price of 1.5 billion euros for the satellite service deal. “What surprises me is the financial aspect of this contract,” stated Senator Antonio Nicita of the Democratic Party. “If we were talking about 200 or 300 million dollars, I wouldn’t see it as anything unusual. But a total agreement of 1.5 billion dollars for basically paying rent for satellites?”
Meloni disagreed with the notion that an Italian deal with SpaceX would thwart a European collaborative satellite project still in the development stage. She pointed out that the Europeans were taking too long and proposed SpaceX as a quicker solution to meet Italy’s needs, saying, “This is a European problem” and the EU’s effort “did not come to fruition in time.”
Some critics contention is that Meloni jeopardizes domestic and international relationships with her endorsement of Musk, but Meloni does not show any sign of regret.
When people mention the threat to democracy, I need to note that he’s not the first prominent and affluent person to share their opinions. Where is the issue with that?
She says it’s completely natural to engage with people she disagrees with… It’s also pretty ironic that people who praised Musk for his genius just a day ago now portray him as a one-dimensional villain simply because he chose to support a more conservative cause.
Instead of transporting migrants directly ashore in Italy.
In response, Mattarella made a rare public statement targeting Musk, saying, “An individual, particularly one who may assume a key government position in a friendly and allied nation, must respect Italy’s sovereignty and refrain from dictating solutions.”
