Trump, Musk, and the Selective Fight Against Globalism

In today’s fractured political and cultural landscape, two figures have emerged as symbols of rebellion against the global elite: Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Both are seen by millions as anti-globalist disruptors — challengers of a rigged system built by unelected bureaucrats, multinational corporations, and transnational institutions.

There’s truth to that view. But as with most power dynamics, the reality is more complex than it appears.

The Anti-Globalist Persona

Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign was built on the foundation of “America First.” He pulled the United States out of international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He challenged NATO’s funding structure and took a hard line against global trade deals. His messaging was clear: globalism had sold out the American worker, and national sovereignty needed to be reclaimed.

Elon Musk has taken a different but parallel route. As the CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, he’s become a vocal critic of global institutions like the World Economic Forum and what he calls the “woke mind virus.” He’s framed himself as a defender of free speech, decentralization (via crypto, AI, and space colonization), and personal agency against the creeping control of bureaucratic systems and algorithmic censorship.

In both cases, the enemy is the same: centralized, unaccountable power operating above the will of ordinary people.

Where the Narrative Breaks

But here’s where things get complicated. Despite their anti-globalist rhetoric, both Trump and Musk are deeply embedded in global systems — and benefit from them.

Trump’s business empire relied on international financing, foreign partnerships, and outsourced labor. While in office, he appointed establishment figures from Wall Street and the corporate world to key positions. His administration passed policies that, while nationalistic in tone, often favored the same financial elites he campaigned against.

Musk’s companies depend on global supply chains, government subsidies (from both democratic and authoritarian states), and international markets. Tesla sources critical materials from overseas, and SpaceX contracts with the U.S. military. His ventures are not immune from — and in some cases are tightly integrated with — the global infrastructure he critiques.

This doesn’t necessarily make them hypocrites. It highlights a deeper truth: you can’t fight the global system without being inside it.

Selective Resistance

What Trump and Musk represent is selective resistance. They push back against the parts of globalism that threaten national sovereignty, free speech, or innovation — while using other aspects of the system to build wealth, influence, and leverage.

They aren’t trying to destroy the machine. They’re trying to override it, redirect it, or take the controls.

That’s what makes them polarizing. To supporters, they are warriors against elite capture and centralized control. To critics, they’re opportunists playing both sides. In truth, they’re something in between — power players navigating a broken system, not saints or villains.

The Bigger Picture

The real issue isn’t whether Trump or Musk are “good” or “bad,” or whether they truly oppose globalism. The core question is this:

Who gets to shape the future? Who has a seat at the table — and who doesn’t?

Globalism, in its current form, consolidates decision-making into the hands of a small, transnational class — disconnected from democratic accountability. Whether it’s economic policy, speech regulation, or surveillance infrastructure, ordinary people are often shut out of the process entirely.

Trump and Musk may not be the answer. But the forces they’re reacting to are very real. And the public’s hunger for sovereignty, transparency, and decentralization isn’t going away.

The battle over globalism isn’t about nostalgia or rebellion. It’s about control — and who still has a voice in a world increasingly governed from above.