Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, took center stage at a prestigious black-tie event in New York City on Monday, underscoring Musk’s growing influence in global politics.
The event, hosted by the Atlantic Council at Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Ballroom, saw Meloni honored with a Global Citizen Award, while Musk introduced her, emphasizing their shared concerns over artificial intelligence and declining birth rates in Western societies.
The Atlantic Council, a prominent Washington-based think tank, recognized Meloni for her “political and economic leadership” in Italy, the European Union, and the Group of 7 nations, as well as her strong support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
As she accepted the award, Musk described Meloni as “authentic, honest, and thoughtful,” adding, “She is even more beautiful inside than outside.” “That can’t always be said about politicians,” Mr. Musk added, to laughter from the crowd of 700 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan.
Meloni, in her acceptance speech, thanked Musk for his “precious genius” and delivered a powerful defense of Western democratic values, stressing that her vision of patriotism is democratic and secular.
While rejecting authoritarian nationalism, she urged a renewed defense of concepts like “nation” and “patriotism.” Musk, who was seated beside his mother, Maye Musk, applauded vigorously as Meloni concluded her remarks.
The high-profile event drew an influential crowd, many of whom sought selfies and conversation with Musk and Meloni at their table. Among the evening’s other honorees were Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; and Miky Lee, Vice Chair of South Korea’s CJ Group.
Since becoming Italy’s first female prime minister in 2022, Meloni has worked to dispel fears about her party’s far-right roots, fostering relationships with mainstream European leaders and the Biden administration. She has aligned with the West on key global issues, including support for Ukraine. Musk, meanwhile, has made several visits to Italy, including one appearance as the star guest at a festival organized by Meloni’s political party in Rome. During that event, Musk expressed concern about Italy’s low birth rate, stating that Italy cannot rely on immigration alone to address population decline. “Italy is the people of Italy,” he said, urging Italians to have more children.
Both Musk and Meloni share deep concerns about the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking earlier at the United Nations, Meloni emphasized the need for political oversight to ensure AI remains under human control. The two leaders are also united in their criticism of progressive ideologies, with Musk decrying what he calls the “woke mind virus” and Meloni condemning “political correctness.”
Musk has also voiced support for Italy’s anti-immigration policies and for Matteo Salvini, Italy’s far-right deputy prime minister. Salvini, a coalition partner in Meloni’s government, is currently on trial for blocking a migrant rescue boat from docking in Italy.
Meloni, who has previously expressed her affinity for the U.S. Republican Party, continues to navigate the international political landscape with a pragmatic approach. Despite her political leanings, she has maintained productive relations with the Biden administration, illustrating her adaptability on the global stage.
The Atlantic Council, which organized the event, is a nonpartisan forum that brings together political and business leaders to discuss global challenges, including security, economics, and climate change. Its chairman, John F.W. Rogers, is an executive at Goldman Sachs with a background in U.S. government service.
Read more via The New York Times/The Guardian
