Poor Boys
An irony so rich, it should be taxed.
At a moment when the world's wealthiest man and the embattled figurehead of democratic societies could have embraced moral abundance, Donald Trump and Elon Musk stand instead as the embodiment of true poverty.
Deep down, both men must sense their own mediocrity. Why else would they be so defensive about their intelligence, so reactive to any challenge to their self-image?
Their egos may be immense, but their self-esteem is brittle. Why else would they be driven by an insatiable need to insult others?
Trump and Musk project images of strength and success, yet their constant craving for praise betrays profound insecurity. Their hunger for external validation, combined with their compulsion to surround themselves exclusively with sycophants, exposes a deep fear of honest feedback. Why else would men who claim to be so accomplished require such continuous affirmation?
Both display immaturity and glaring character flaws in their impulse to belittle others—a habit that reveals weakness as much as cruelty.
Trump is notorious for his use of derisive nicknames to demean government officials and political opponents: "Sleepy Joe" Biden, "Crooked Hillary" Clinton, "Comrade Kamala" Harris, "Pocahontas" Elizabeth Warren, "Little Marco" Rubio. He is also an avid body-shamer, taking cheap shots at people's weight, height, or facial features. Calling political opponents "dumb," "stupid," or "low IQ"? Check. Undermining experts by dismissing credentials and questioning their authority? Check. Labeling unfavorable media coverage as "fake news"? Check.
Musk, too, indulges in public mockery. On Twitter/X, he ridicules government officials and regulatory bodies, often with memes or flippant one-liners. In 2018, he notoriously called a Thai cave rescuer "pedo guy" simply because his submarine offer was rejected. Musk also targets journalists who scrutinize his companies. Humiliating employees by publicly criticizing them and mass-firing workers via Twitter/X? Check. Implying critics simply lack the intellect to grasp his genius? Check. Dismissing the expertise of scientists, regulators, or industry specialists who dare to disagree with him? The world's richest man thinks: Why not?
This compulsive need to belittle others masks profound weakness—cruelty wielded as a shield against personal insecurity, inadvertently exposing their character deficiencies to perceptive observers.
Of the four Stoic virtues (wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance), Marcus Aurelius considered justice the highest virtue, describing it as "the foundation of all other virtues." After all, courage and discipline lose their meaning if driven solely by self-interest, and wisdom holds little value if not applied for the good of all.
In his April 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," underscoring the interconnected nature of justice and the necessity of confronting injustice wherever it exists. The quote remains a cornerstone of social justice movements today, emphasizing the global responsibility to combat inequality.
Yet injustice has become the Trump-Musk brand. Just as American society, however incrementally, moved toward progress, these two have worked aggressively to reverse it.
Trump attempted to manipulate the justice system by attacking judges, witnesses, and prosecutors involved in cases against him and his allies. He advocated prosecuting political opponents while seeking immunity for himself and his loyalists. When law enforcement agencies acted against his interests, he denounced them—the FBI, the Department of Justice, intelligence agencies. Then came the pardons, wielded to protect cronies rather than to correct systemic injustices.
Not to be outdone by his Dear Leader, Musk has racked up his own labor law violations, with Tesla facing allegations of union-busting, workplace discrimination, and unfair labor practices. He has repeatedly flouted regulatory oversight, challenging the SEC and sometimes outright ignoring settlements and court orders. Despite touting Twitter/X as a bastion of free speech, he implemented moderation policies that conveniently aligned with his own political preferences. And let's not forget his market-manipulating tweets that have repeatedly tested the limits of securities law.
Both men exploit their wealth and influence to play by different rules than the rest of society, reinforcing the perception that justice bends for the powerful.
These emotionally fragile, blood-money billionaires are not titans of industry or visionaries of the future. They are weak men who need to diminish others to feel big. They can't handle criticism. They lack substantive arguments. They are incapable of self-reflection and allergic to accountability.
Their pockets may be full, but their principles are empty. Trump and Musk are not just morally bankrupt; they are destitute of decency.
Anyone with a modicum of integrity, compassion, and civility is, by comparison, infinitely richer.
As always, this brilliant and insightful read expresses my concerns, fears, and outrage with our political landscape. Thank you for such a powerful piece. I’ve been a long-time fan of your writing and will follow you on whatever platform you choose.
What a pleasure to read your writing. Thank you! Your topic, both relevant and chilling, is not only timely, it is well chosen and your insight is useful. I am already keen to read more. I count myself fortunate to be among your new followers and have always been richer for knowing you.