Member-only story
There’s no question that Elon Musk has been valuable to you.
Like there’s no question that you beat Kamala Harris soundly. The popular vote was a three million ballot difference but that counts as a clear victory.
When, in the final weeks of the campaign, you were concerned about Republican donations not being enough, Musk came through with 250 million, or so they say. That’s a good chunk of money.
But would you have won without it?
You would have. Your appeal to your supporters came from a different place.
They wanted someone who sounded like a rascal, someone who had broken the law, who was fighting the courts — Jesse James and Robin Hood combined — someone who gave them permission to hate and in so doing dream that they would be cleansed of all their flaws.
You convinced them that you were one of them. Except for the very rich part. ??
Your supporters wanted someone who promised redemption without the toil required.
And you got in.
But in a nation of 346 million people, the three million vote difference in the popular vote means that just half of America believes in you.
The other half has profound doubts as to your abilities.
Profound doubts that you believe in democracy. Because no, we will not forget or forgive what happened on January 6th 2021. No matter what immunity you’re given by clever scholars and judges.
We worry, too, that you like keeping grudges, a sign of intolerance…
