Elon Musk's dozens of meetings with presidents, prime ministers and political candidates show his growing political influence

Over the past three years, Elon Musk has had numerous meetings with various political leaders globally. Some meetings have been highly publicized, such as his visit to Israel with Prime Minister Netanyahu, while others, like conversations with Argentine President Milei, surfaced only through Musk's social media. Discussions have focused on business, elections, and policy issues like trade, energy, and population management.

Musk's interactions suggest a blend of business acumen and political influence. He's been courted for his insights on AI, global affairs through Starlink, and public opinion shaping via his platform. Despite denials, recent allegations suggest contacts with Russian officials about Starlink; these claims remain unconfirmed.

Musk's business dealings have grown with political ties: a meeting with Brazil’s former President Bolsonaro marked Starlink’s launch there, and discussions with Mexico's López Obrador led to incentives for a Tesla plant. His visits to China and ongoing communication with other global leaders underline his expanding influence. 

In the U.S., Musk's political activities have extended to supporting candidates like Trump and expressing controversial views. His actions have impacted his companies, with decreased ad revenues for X and a SpaceX lawsuit against a California regulator over launch permissions.

Musk has notably engaged with right-leaning leaders, expressing comfort with them and leveraging relationships to benefit his interests, as seen with Italy's Meloni and India’s Modi. Recent meetings with Argentina’s Milei underscore his influence, with Musk advocating investment in Argentina, highlighting its lithium reserves.

As Musk supports Trump's campaign, discussions have emerged about leading a 'government efficiency commission' in a future Trump administration, potentially positioning Musk as a significant figure in U.S. politics.