The fallout between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has caught the attention of many observers worldwide, sparking conversations not only in the United States but also in China, where many side with Musk.
Once a symbol of potential American oligarchy, their now-soured relationship is being scrutinized on Chinese social media, which is usually tightly controlled, suggesting that some censors see potential benefits for China in the chaos of US politics.
The US political intrigue deepened when Musk announced his plan to found a new political entity, the America party, in reaction to Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, which Musk deemed “insane” and which passed the Senate recently.
The hashtag #MuskWantsToBuildAnAmericaParty quickly went viral on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, receiving massive attention.
“Elon Musk founding a political party? His tech-driven mindset could invigorate politics. It’s a significant potential change worth watching,” one Weibo user remarked.
“When you’ve had enough, there’s no need to keep putting up with it,” wrote another.
The sentiment on Weibo was summarized as, “Brother Musk, you’ve got over a billion people on our side backing you.”
Musk, who leads Tesla and SpaceX, is highly respected in China for his business and technological achievements. Tesla’s success in China is unmatched among Western automakers, and Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, is a social media star there.
Despite China’s strict internet controls, the conversation about Musk and Trump’s feud is thriving online, hinting that some authorities might see value in the disruption it could cause for the US.
Complemented by research from Lillian Yang
