Here is my perspective from Europe, specifically Italy.
There are two prevailing views about Elon Musk here:
1. The far-right fans
Far-right supporters, including our current Prime Minister and ruling coalition — known for hypocrisy regarding moral standards — paradoxically idolize Musk as a modern messiah. These parties (with historical ties to fascist ideologies) overlook Musk's controversial family arrangements while portraying him as a tech savior. Our Prime Minister appears particularly enamored — one might even suspect a secret infatuation.
2. The general public
The general public has undergone a notable shift. Initial attitudes ranged from indifference to cautious admiration of his SpaceX/Tesla ventures. However, his Twitter/X acquisition and overt support for Trump triggered growing disdain. Today, he's widely perceived as a fascist-leaning opportunist whose success appears increasingly attributed to luck rather than genius.
Why Teslas aren't vandalized in Italy
Interestingly, Tesla vehicles aren't vandalized here as in some countries, but this reflects cultural factors rather than approval:
- Most Italians see U.S. politics as distant (despite hosting numerous American military bases — an amusing contradiction)
- We maintain complex self-perceptions about sovereignty while functioning as a de facto U.S. satellite state
The Musk phenomenon ultimately reveals more about Europe's political fractures and transatlantic paradoxes than about the man himself.