Musk, who has become a central player in President-elect Trump's inner circle since backing his presidential bid last year, has thrown his weight behind far-right parties in both the United Kingdom and Germany in recent weeks.
"Certainly there's an interdependent relationship between Musk and Trump, as we saw during the U.S. presidential election," said Garret Martin, co-director of American University's Transatlantic Policy Center.
"I think Musk has a rather large megaphone with X. He has a large number of followers, and he has deep pockets. So I think it's a rather helpful tool."
"But, you know, Musk is a bit of a loose cannon. I mean, he seems to be following his own ambitions and his own goals, which may not always be exactly identical to those of Trump. So for that reason, I think it's really a double-edged sword."
Since pouring at least $250 million into Trump's campaign, Musk has become a fixture at Trump's side. The tech billionaire is set to co-chair the brand-new "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) in the incoming administration, dedicated to slashing government costs.
However, Musk's role seems to go far beyond the cost-cutting commission, with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO reportedly joining Trump on calls with foreign leaders since the election.
"I think that foreign governments are watching it and trying to figure out where the balance of power is within Trump World. They take Musk more seriously than just a billionaire mouthing off, but they don't regard it necessarily as policy," said former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried.
Read more in a full report at TheHill.com on Thursday morning.
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