Abstract:
Senior U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has slammed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s political spending ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, warning that the billionaire’s growing influence could pose a threat to the U.S. political system. On Wednesday local time, Sanders posted on the
He said: "This election is not just a contest between Democrats and Republicans, it is also about whether the world's first trillionaire can buy our government."
At the end of the article, he called on the American people to resist the oligarchy, writing: "Say 'no' to Musk and say 'no' to the oligarchy."
Last week, Musk poured more than $276 million (since July) into Republican-related groups and their "super PACs", making him the highest known individual contributor to the 2026 midterm elections.
He donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and more than $76 million to America PAC. His total known federal political contributions during the 2025-26 election cycle are approximately $366 million, exceeding the approximately $290 million he has invested during the 2024 presidential election.
There were reports on Wednesday that Democrats may launch an investigation into Musk if they win the congressional elections.
California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff called on the Senate to launch a comprehensive investigation into the Starlink speed limit in Ukraine, and asked Musk to testify under oath. He pointed to the conflicting statements between Trump, who denied ever ordering any restrictions, and Musk, who claimed the restrictions were determined by the military and the president.
Democrats also want to investigate Musk's role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutting more than 250,000 federal jobs, withholding congressional funding, and obtaining sensitive government data.
In response to relevant reports, Musk vowed to find out those behind the scenes who are "manipulating everything" behind his critics. He posted on the social platform X: "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword."
Musk added that those who take the initiative to challenge him should understand that he will definitely find out "who is behind the scenes" and will "directly find these masterminds, not just the puppets in their hands."
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