Robert Reich is calling on Democrats to “defund” Elon Musk and take control of his companies if they achieve government power.
The former labor secretary under President Bill Clinton accused Musk of using bribes to influence politics.
Reich expressed that “Musk epitomizes the power of oligarchy over democracy” in America.
Recently, he articulated his ambition for progressives to terminate Musk’s government contracts and fully nationalize his businesses.
On his podcast “The Coffee Klatch,” he labeled Musk an “emblem” illustrating the necessity for a wealth tax on billionaires, proposing a “one-time 5% tax” across the nation.
He emphasized, “We’ve got to defund Musk,” highlighting Musk’s reliance on government contracts and taxpayer support. “We are subsidizing Elon Musk,” he stated, expressing frustration over Musk’s control of Starlink and its implications for the Ukrainian government. “How can one man decide what happens in Ukraine while we’re funding him?”
Reich reiterated his stance, urging Democrats to start laying the groundwork to nationalize both Starlink and SpaceX, insisting that they should be public corporations to avoid concentrating such power in private hands.
After a segment of the podcast was shared on X, Musk retorted that “stealing companies is a serious crime” and suggested “Prison for Reich.”
He seemed to echo Reich’s sentiments, who accused Musk of being a prime example of billionaire influence in America. Reich went on to discuss Musk’s backing of Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, indicating that he is attempting to buy political favor similar to titans of the Gilded Age.
Additionally, Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse, a close associate of Reich and executive director of Inequality Media, joined in criticizing Musk for threatening to retaliate against dissenters. Lofthouse clarified that Democrats’ intentions are about accountability rather than a confrontation, remarking on Musk’s substantial government contracts and other issues needing addressing if Democrats regain control.
It’s worth noting that Lockheed Martin, the largest government contractor for fiscal year 2023 under President Biden, received over $70 billion, with RTX following at $31.3 billion.
Interestingly, Lockheed also secured more than $52 billion in government contracts in 2024.
