Slobodian Dissects Trump’s ‘Billionaire Administration’
Professor Quinn Slobodian, Professor of International History at the Pardee School of Global Studies, recently appeared on CBC Radio’s Front Burner podcast to discuss the unprecedented influence of billionaires in Donald Trump’s second administration. With figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks playing key roles, Slobodian examines how the Trump White House is shifting away from traditional Wall Street influence and toward the tech elite, marking a new era of plutocratic governance.
Slobodian highlights how Trump’s billionaire cabinet – expected to be the wealthiest in U.S. history – signals a transformation in the relationship between wealth and political power. Unlike past administrations, where elite influence operated behind the scenes through lobbying and campaign donations, today’s billionaires are openly aligning themselves with Trump. Musk, in particular, has taken an aggressive role in global politics, amplifying far-right narratives and shaping policy both in the U.S. and abroad.
The conversation also explores the broader implications of this power shift. With major tech figures securing influential government positions, such as Sacks being named “AI and Crypto Czar”, Silicon Valley is now deeply embedded in policymaking. Slobodian warns that this alignment is not just about economic policy but also about reshaping governance itself, as figures like Thiel and Musk seek to weaken democratic oversight in favor of a more corporate-driven state.
Beyond individual billionaire influence, Slobodian discusses the broader implications of this shift, particularly the growing alignment between big tech and right-wing populism. The Trump administration’s rollback of regulations, including efforts to curb AI monopolies and enforce stricter content moderation on platforms like Meta, directly benefits tech billionaires who once faced scrutiny under the Biden administration. Slobodian argues that these developments accelerate America’s transformation into an oligarchy, where the wealthiest individuals not only control vast corporate empires but also shape government policies to serve their interests. Unlike past billionaires who primarily sought to protect their financial standing, figures like Musk, Thiel, and Sacks appear driven by ideological ambitions, seeking to weaken democratic oversight and centralize power within a technocratic elite.
As billionaires take an increasingly active role in governance, the fundamental question remains: what does this mean for democracy? With the ultra-wealthy now holding both economic and political power in ways never seen before, Slobodian warns that the balance of power in the U.S. may be shifting permanently. Whether this new model of governance leads to greater innovation or entrenches inequality, one thing is clear: Trump’s second administration is rewriting the rules of political influence in America.
Listen to the whole podcast here.