There was a time when few Latin Americans were aware of who Elon Musk was, despite his large fortune.
But this eccentric, unorthodox billionaire — owner of big tech companies such as Tesla, Starlink, and since 2022 even X (at the time, Twitter) — is becoming increasingly famous inside political discussions in the region, especially for his controversial declarations about Brazil’s judicial system.
Mr. Musk shared moments of camaraderie with former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. But when the far-right leader lost to his nemesis Lula in 2022, the mogul had to seek new affinities.
El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, a tough-on-crime leader who is known for smashing urban gangs despite reports of human rights abuses, seemed like a good option.
But Mr. Musk still needed someone ahead of one of Latin America’s five biggest economies, which became a stalemate since the governments of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile were simultaneously in the hands of left-wing administrators by 2023.
At the end of the year, however, the tide started to turn when Argentinians elected far-right libertarian Javier Milei, who shares Mr. Musk’s beliefs on economic, political, and social issues.
As proof of their mutual affection, close friends M&M met this April in the U.S., exposing their love of the free market, controversial concepts of “liberties,” goals for the lithium market, and skepticism toward progressive social values.
The meeting was an example of how Musk can bear huge implications in today’s political discussions in Latin America, turning him into more than just a random tycoon.
Check out the creation of this cartoon on The Brazilian Report’s TikTok account (@brazilianreport).
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