Aristotle first coined the term oligarchy to describe an abusive system of government in which a few wealthy people rule over the rest of the people. Political opponents of Donald Trump have repeatedly used the term, especially as the President-elect continues to select more billionaires for his cabinet than any President in US history.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is a vocal critic of Trump and has minced no words in accusing the politician of building an oligarchy before his next term even commences. “This is what Oligarchy looks like,” Sanders wrote in a statement on December 2. “Today, we have a greater concentration of ownership than we have seen since the Gilded Age. In sector after sector – financial services, health care, agriculture, transportation, energy, food, housing, etc. – fewer and fewer giant corporations control what is produced and the prices we pay.”
Many fear that Trump’s selection for his next cabinet will only push the country further toward an oligarchy, starting with Elon Musk and DOGE. According to Northwestern University Political Scientist Jeffery Winters, Musk fits the definition of an oligarch through and through. “Money is always power,” Winters said in an interview with Slate. “It can set things in motion and fuel a campaign.”
Since the 2010 ruling of Citizens United vs. FEC, corporate leaders like Musk have wielded tremendous power in the United States. Aside from using their money to back candidates who will vet their interests, Musk and some of the wealthiest men in the world aren’t just whispering in Trump’s ear but running their departments.
The incoming Trump administration includes nine billionaires and has a combined GDP higher than that of 169 different countries. This opens the door for distinct conflicts of interest.
One problem with a government led by the uber-wealthy is the distance between their lived experiences and those they govern. Not only does the cost of everyday items not impact the elites as much as the average American, but many also live within the narrative that they worked harder for their riches.
Scientists agree that Trump is leading America down the path of oligarchy.
