Business magnate Elon Musk is doing battle with veteran analyst Bill Kristol and apparently, the world of online Twitter users have decided to join the wave. It seems that the war words began when certain tweets were circulated which falsely accused the Defending Democracy Together Institute, a non-profit that Kristol and I manage, of receiving funding from USAID, a federal operation. Elon Musk, ever eager to conjure controversy, fanned the flames of this misinformation. However, the truth of the matter is far more mundane: USAID typically awards grants to various initiatives and on occasion one such receiver of a grant was a charitable foundation. This foundation once redirected its funding towards a donor-advised fund. One of the beneficiaries of this fund on an occasion was our own DDTI.
Elon’s interpretation of events paints an excessively dramatic picture, accusing the government of directly funding Kristol’s enterprise. However, this over-simplified and skewed description hardly captures the nuances and complexities of governmental functioning and grant allocation. The situation at hand is straightforward: DDTI received a grant from the donor-advised fund, supporting center-right and pro-democracy organizations. Bill Kristol is a member of the DDTI board. This is a standard course of events, unless one harbors a paranoid and distorted view of the world with a shaky understanding of how governments operate.
More dangerous here is a manipulation strategy that Elon seems to favor: trying to influence events by rallying his online supporters against a target and applying pressure. His true aim is far from noble – to suppress opposition and secure silence. He does not stop at online attacks. The prospect of real-world adverse actions is implicit in his method and this same cloud hangs over anyone whom he or his followers choose as their subject of ire. One day it’s Bill Kristol, the next day it could be anyone else.
The cruel attacks and bizarre claims are not restricted to Kristol alone, they’ve been directed at others too. Outlandish allegations about people receiving USAID funds for typical activities that Musk or his fanbase disapproves of are a common feature of such smear campaigns. To say it plainly, they are merely fabricating stories to serve their narrative.
This unconventional practice radiates a novelty in our society as American citizens. Never before has a presidential administration used federal authority against fellow citizens, media platforms, and political opponents so openly. But now we are in uncharted waters. Their overarching strategy seems to be coercion of critics, suppression of media and using government as a puppet for personal gain.
Initially, they target and intimidate you. Then, they create unfounded conspiracy theories around you. Subsequently, the followers, like a rabid online mob, pressure you into submission. This is the game plan of an autocrat. Though their strategy is audacious and stark, at least Musk and his followers aren’t bothering to hide their intentions.
However, they grossly misinterpret one fact: authoritarian dominance succeeds only if individuals allow them to prevail. As opposed to the tech sycophants, we have resolved to keep standing firm, keep debunking their lies. Meanwhile, in the realm of their fictitious narratives, we will continue ‘profiting’ from the non-existent USAID funding.