Elon Musk has endorsed Călin Georgescu as Romania's next president. But what happens when a tech billionaire and a far-right Romanian politician collide? A political firestorm. In a world where billionaires and populists are manipulating elections in the name of 'democracy', Mimi Mihăilescu shows how Musk has succeeded in weaponising Romania's sovereignty
It’s not every day that one of the world’s richest men decides to weigh in on Romanian politics. Elon Musk, self-proclaimed defender of free speech, has thrown his considerable digital weight behind Călin Georgescu, Romania’s rising far-right figure.
Musk’s endorsement wasn’t subtle. He shared a post on X supporting Georgescu’s call to ban the so-called 'Soros network' in Romania. This instantly sent Georgescu’s supporters into a frenzy, because it echoed their chants of Romania deserves its own sovereignty! at country-wide protests. Musk was responding to Georgescu’s declaration that: 'On my first official day, the entire Soros network will be banned personally by me. We know who they are; it’s very clear'.
But is that true? Does Musk’s post really signal Trump’s approval of Georgescu? Or is this yet another example of the far right twisting reality to fit its narrative? It doesn’t matter. Perception is reality in the digital age, and Musk’s post on X was all Georgescu’s movement needed to claim a global endorsement.
If you believe Georgescu and his supporters, Romania is entangled in a vast, shadowy web spun by George Soros. Soros’ organisations, they claim, are secretly controlling the government, the media, the universities... probably even your book club. Georgescu's followers often share lists of so-called Sorosists — journalists, academics, and NGOs accused of working against Romania’s interests.
This isn’t new. For decades, politicians have used Soros-related conspiracy theories as political tools. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán exploits them for state propaganda, and Trump’s allies manipulate them to justify everything from fear of immigration to claims of election fraud. Now, Georgescu has repackaged the same narrative in Romania.
But why George Soros? Soros is the perfect enemy: symbolising globalism, progressive causes, and liberal democracy, he is everything Georgescu's supporters oppose. And Soros' philanthropy funds pro-democracy movements, making him a convenient scapegoat for nationalist conspiracies.
Musk, whose alignment with far-right rhetoric is also not new, is adding fuel to the fire with his endorsement of Georgescu. X has long been a breeding ground for Soros conspiracies, and Musk has reinforced them. Just last year, he accused Soros of wanting to 'erode the very fabric of civilization'. So is it not surprising that he’d back a man who promises to rid Romania of the 'Soros network'.
While Musk is amplifying a far-right Romanian politician’s anti-Soros rhetoric, the US government is pressuring Romania to allow Georgescu to run for office. Recent reports reveal that US officials have urged Romania not to block Georgescu’s candidacy. Why? Because banning candidates doesn’t look good for democracy. But this creates a paradox: on the one hand, Georgescu and his supporters claim they’re resisting Western influence; on the other, American intervention is, arguably, helping him stay in the race. For Georgescu’s camp, it's a win-win. If he's allowed to run, Georgescu can claim it’s proof that the people support him. If he’s blocked, it’s proof that the 'Soros-controlled' West is trying to silence him.
Yet, this is not the first time the US has interfered in Romania's election under the guise of defending democracy. At the Munich Security Conference on 14 February, US Vice President JD Vance, although he did not explicitly endorse Georgescu, specifically referenced Romania’s annulment of its November 2024 presidential election, in which Georgescu had led in the first round before the Constitutional Court intervened, citing electoral irregularities.
Many in the media interpreted Vance’s comments as a rebuke of the Romanian government for blocking a far-right candidate. Musk has endorsed this interpretation:
But is all this really about democracy? Or is it about pushing a populist, nationalist leader who aligns with the Trump administration’s foreign policy goals?
Georgescu has repeatedly suggested he has the backing of Donald Trump. Of course, Trump himself has never officially confirmed this. But this is where Musk comes in. For Georgescu’s followers, Musk’s endorsement on X is all the proof they need, especially in the post-truth era. If enough high-profile figures say Georgescu's name, his supporters will fill in the gaps.
In a dramatic escalation of Romania's political turmoil, Călin Georgescu has been arrested and charged with six criminal offences, including falsifying campaign finances, and supporting fascist organisations. After five hours of inquiry, Georgescu left the Public Prosecutor's Office. Surrounded by supporters, he mimicked Elon Musk’s controversial Roman salute.
The gesture has been widely criticised for its resemblance to a fascist salute. Musk brushed off such concerns, but for the far-right, this kind of ambiguity is a gift. By copying Musk, Georgescu wasn’t just paying tribute to a billionaire ally; he was reinforcing his alignment with their movement.
Positioning himself as Romania’s saviour against the Soros network is not just Georgescu's campaign strategy, it’s his entire political identity. The fact that Musk and Vance have, in different ways, amplified his cause only strengthens his legitimacy among the Romanian far right, and reinforces his supporters' perception that Georgescu is Romania’s last defence against globalist control.
Musk’s endorsement won’t be the last time a Western figure endorses Romanian far-right politics. Georgescu’s populist strategy to cast himself as the man who will 'destroy the Soros network' is clearly working. The interventions of Musk and Vance in Romanian politics highlight a disturbing trend: the growing influence of US tech moguls and far-right politicians in shaping European elections. Their support for Georgescu is not just about Romania, but part of a larger ideological battle over the future of Western democracies.
