Giorgia Meloni Receives Global Award from the Atlantic Council & Praise from Musk

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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were the center of attention at a black-tie event in New York, where Meloni received the Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council. The award was in recognition of her political and economic leadership of Italy, her role within the European Union, and her support of Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing war. Meloni chose Musk to introduce her, cementing their connection over shared concerns, such as artificial intelligence and the declining birthrate in Western countries. Musk has frequently referred to this demographic issue as an existential threat to civilization.

Giorgia Meloni received an award from Tbe Atlantic Council in NYC today.

She then delivered a speech about the importance of the nation, patriotism, Western Civilization and remembering one’s roots.

She warned about Oikophobia & the creeping infiltration of the West’s enemies. pic.twitter.com/7rijdncGd7

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 24, 2024

 

At the event, Musk praised Meloni, describing her as “someone who is even more beautiful inside than outside” and called her “authentic, honest and thoughtful.” He added, “That can’t always be said about politicians,” which drew laughter from the 700 attendees at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan. After thanking Musk for his "precious genius," Meloni used her platform to deliver a passionate speech defending Western values. Rejecting authoritarian nationalism, she stated that “we should not be afraid to defend words like ‘nation’ and ‘patriotism,’” while stressing that her vision remained “democratic and secular.” Musk, seated beside his mother, Maye Musk, nodded in agreement during her speech and energetically applauded when she concluded.

 

Meloni's speech resonated not just with Musk but with the entire audience. The pair’s table was soon swarmed by attendees eager to take selfies or engage with Musk. 

 

Meloni, since assuming the role of prime minister in 2022, has worked to dispel fears that her far-right political background might lead Italy back towards fascism. Instead, she has maintained strong relationships with European leaders and the Biden administration, aligning herself on critical global issues, particularly the war in Ukraine. In Europe, Meloni is considered more acceptable to other leaders compared to figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orban, and she is seen as a potential bridge between far-right movements and Europe’s mainstream political parties.

 

Musk, who has increasingly aligned himself with right-wing politics, has supported figures like former President Donald Trump, Argentina’s Javier Milei, and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro. He has used these political connections to both expand his business empire and promote his political views. Musk’s ties to Italy also include his particular interest in the country’s demographic decline. Italy, which has one of the fastest shrinking populations in the West, has caught Musk’s attention.

 

“Italy will have no people if these trends continue,” he tweeted in 2022. During a visit to Rome last year, Musk expressed concern about Italy’s low birthrate and spoke about the importance of children, encouraging Italians to have more.

 

Both Musk and Meloni share a keen interest in the impact of artificial intelligence on society. Meloni, speaking at the United Nations earlier that day, emphasized that “politics must guarantee that artificial intelligence remains controlled by humans and keeps humans at the center.”

 

In addition to their views on artificial intelligence and declining birthrates, Musk and Meloni have also stood on the same side in cultural debates. Musk has frequently criticized what he terms the "woke mind virus," while Meloni has similarly condemned "political correctness." Musk has also supported Italy’s strict immigration policies, particularly those led by Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and a key figure in Meloni’s coalition government. Salvini is currently on trial for preventing a boat carrying migrants from docking in Italy, an issue that Musk has aligned with through his broader anti-immigration stance.

 

Though Meloni's political affinities lean toward the American Republican Party, she has maintained a working relationship with the Biden administration, stating in July that, “This has not prevented me from working very well with the Biden administration.”

 

The Atlantic Council, which hosted the event, describes itself as a nonpartisan forum for political and business leaders to address key global issues. Its chairman, John F.W. Rogers, serves as executive vice president at Goldman Sachs and has held several high-ranking positions in the U.S. government.

 

Based on a report from: NYT 2024-09-26