Bernie Sanders Accuses Elon Musk of Promoting Oligarchy
Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Elon Musk for spending $366 million to support Republicans, while Musk alleged Indian oligarchs are blocking Starlink's market entry.
United States Senator Bernie Sanders accused SpaceX CEO Elon Musk of promoting an oligarchy after reports revealed Musk spent approximately $366 million to help Republicans retain control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. Sanders claimed that Musk's previous $290 million investment to elect Donald Trump paid off, asserting that Musk's wealth increased by $696 billion since that election, making him the world's first trillionaire.
Campaign finance records indicate Musk is likely the largest individual donor of the current cycle. He contributed $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and $76 million to his America PAC. America PAC defended these investments as necessary for the GOP to communicate its message and defy history. Sanders linked this spending to administration actions that favored Musk's businesses, including the promotion of Tesla vehicles and diplomatic efforts to expand Starlink globally.
Simultaneously, Musk alleged that certain oligarchs in India are blocking Starlink's entry into the satellite communications market to maintain a monopolistic chokehold. He specifically targeted Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, calling him the real boss of India. The Ministry of Communications of India rejected these claims as baseless and misconceived, stating that its authorization framework is fair and non-discriminatory for all providers, including Starlink and Jio Satellite Communications.
