Elon Musk is currently under investigation by the Secret Service following a controversial social media post in which he jokingly questioned why no one has attempted to assassinate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite this inquiry, Musk is scheduled to present an award to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a private event hosted by the Atlantic Council in New York on Monday evening. This decision appears to have been strongly influenced by Meloni, potentially as a counterbalance to Matteo Salvini’s connections with Musk and former President Donald Trump.
The award ceremony is reportedly causing embarrassment for the Atlantic Council, which had hoped for a less polarizing figure to present the award just weeks before the U.S. elections on November 5. Concerns are growing about the implications for future relations between the White House and the Italian government, especially if Meloni’s candidate faces backlash due to Musk’s history of controversial remarks and behavior towards the Democrats.
The Secret Service investigation is a standard procedure in such situations, regardless of the nature of the threats. However, it adds complexity to an already delicate situation. Meloni will receive the Global Citizen Award, but internal dissent within the Atlantic Council is rising, particularly regarding the decision to honor her and have Musk present the award. Many council members are uneasy about Meloni’s past ties to Russia and her party’s anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Tensions peaked when it was announced that Musk would present the award at Meloni’s request. Many members support Ukraine, while Musk has made statements that appear to undermine the country’s position. His decision to release the “Twitter files” in 2022 led to harassment against council staff involved in combating misinformation. Complaints were voiced during a September 3 call with CEO Fredrick Kempe, who insisted that the council is nonpartisan and could not deny Meloni’s request based solely on Musk’s views.
Paolo Messa, a nonresident senior fellow at the council, noted that while the institution prides itself on being nonpartisan, Musk’s selection could have been reconsidered. He explained that previous awardees, like Mario Draghi, had less controversial presenters. Meloni’s insistence on Musk as the presenter was so strong that it reportedly became a condition for her acceptance of the award.
This decision is not without its implications. Musk has been actively courted by Salvini, who has sought to leverage his relationship with Trump. Meloni, in an apparent bid to surpass Salvini, is trying to reinforce her own ties with Musk, signaling her readiness to collaborate with Trump while attempting to distance herself from her previous favorable relations with Biden. Should Harris win the upcoming elections, Meloni would face a challenging task in navigating a relationship with the new administration, contrasting sharply with Salvini’s likely continued opposition.
