United States Senator, Bernie Sanders, has criticised billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk, over his financial support for Republican candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, questioning the growing influence of wealthy individuals in American politics.
Sanders’ criticism centres on Musk’s reported political donations and the substantial increase in his fortune since he supported President Donald Trump’s election campaign.
The senator argued that Musk’s financial backing of Trump had coincided with an extraordinary rise in his wealth, followed by further spending aimed at helping Republicans maintain their congressional majorities.
In a post on X, Sanders said Musk had contributed $290 million towards Trump’s election victory and subsequently increased his wealth by $696 billion, becoming the world’s first trillionaire. He also accused the billionaire of committing another $366 million to Republican efforts ahead of the midterms.
“Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump. It paid off. Since his election, Musk got $696 billion richer & became the world’s 1st trillionaire. But that’s not enough. Now, Musk is spending $366 million to keep Republicans in control of Congress. STOP MUSK. STOP OLIGARCHY,” Sanders said in a post on X.
The senator’s remarks have renewed scrutiny of the role of billionaires in electoral politics, particularly as Republicans and Democrats prepare for a closely watched contest over control of Congress.
Musk Defends Starlink’s Push Into India
The political controversy comes as Musk continues to defend the proposed expansion of his satellite internet company, Starlink, into India, where the prospect of its entry has fuelled a debate over competition and the market position of major domestic telecommunications operators.
Musk has argued that Indian consumers would benefit from having an additional internet service provider, dismissing concerns that Starlink’s entry could threaten established businesses, including Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani.
In another post on X, Musk criticised arguments reportedly made by Ambani’s supporters against Starlink’s entry into the Indian market, describing their position as “absurd hypocrisy and hyperbole”.
“On the one hand, they say Starlink couldn’t possibly compete with the amazing low prices offered by Ambani’s de facto monopoly in India and then, in the same breath, they essentially claim that Starlink would be too strong of a competitor!” Musk wrote.
He maintained that introducing another provider would expand consumer choice, even if it reduced the profits of existing operators.
“The reality is that competition would greatly benefit the average citizen in India by giving them more choices, as it always does. Ambani’s profits will be lower, but he is not going out of business,” he added.
Musk’s comments followed an earlier post on Friday in which he sarcastically addressed Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani”, alleging that the business leader wielded excessive influence over India’s affairs.
“Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India. Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” Musk wrote.
The billionaire has also accused unnamed business interests of attempting to prevent Starlink from entering India to preserve their existing market advantages.
Indian authorities, however, have rejected claims that the delay is intended to shield domestic operators from competition, attributing the outstanding issues to regulatory procedures and security requirements that remain to be completed.
Musk Emerges as Major Republican Donor
Musk’s political expenditure has also drawn attention following a report by The New York Times published on Monday, which said he had spent $276 million since July alone.
According to the report, $158 million of that amount went through a super PAC concentrating on Republican Senate candidates. The publication identified Musk as the largest individual political donor of the year.
Musk, who has maintained close ties with Trump, previously served as a special government adviser to the White House. His political spending has become a significant part of the broader contest between Republicans and Democrats over the future direction of the US government.
America PAC, Musk’s political action committee, has confirmed the spending figures.
Andrew Romeo, a spokesperson for the organisation, defended the financial commitment, arguing that the money was needed to strengthen Republican candidates’ prospects of retaining control of Congress.
“These robust investments have allowed the GOP apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history,” Romeo told The New York Times.
Midterm Elections Raise Stakes for Both Parties
The spending comes at a challenging time for Republican candidates, who face concerns over Trump’s approval ratings and persistent voter anxiety about the rising cost of living.
Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping to turn dissatisfaction with the administration into electoral gains and reclaim control of Congress.
Republicans currently hold majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making the midterm elections a crucial test of the president’s political standing and his party’s ability to maintain its legislative advantage.
Against this backdrop, Musk’s financial support for Republican candidates and his public dispute over Starlink’s proposed expansion into India have placed the billionaire at the centre of two separate debates: the influence of private wealth on American elections and the role of competition in major international markets.
