Conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson writes that the political left's attitude toward Elon Musk has shifted dramatically since the billionaire entrepreneur announced he would vote Republican in 2022. Previously celebrated for challenging fossil-fuel automakers with Tesla, Musk now faces what Hanson describes as "unhinged venom" from figures including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called him "probably one of the most unintelligent billionaires I have ever met," and Bill Gates, who accused Musk of "killing the world's poorest children" by advocating cuts to foreign aid.
Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich has called for the nationalization of Musk's SpaceX and Starlink operations. Hanson notes that hostility has extended to property, citing more than 80 attacks on Tesla vehicles, dealerships and drivers in early 2025, with vandalism and arson continuing into 2026.
Hanson outlines five reasons for the reversal. First, Musk switched from supporting Democrats — he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 — to donating hundreds of millions to Republican candidates in 2024 and 2026. Second, Democrats blame his spending in swing states for Donald Trump's 2024 victory. Third, Musk purchased Twitter, renamed it X, and removed censorship policies Hanson says favored left-wing dogmas.
Fourth, Musk helped lead the 2025 Department of Government Efficiency cuts that reduced the federal workforce by roughly 270,000 employees and scaled back USAID programs Hanson describes as supporting globalist causes. Fifth, Hanson argues the left has turned against billionaires generally, now advocating wealth confiscation, nationalization and taxes on unrealized gains — a shift from 2020, when figures like Mark Zuckerberg were praised for donating $420 million to boost Democratic turnout.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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