In a highly anticipated appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, tech billionaire Elon Musk took a jab at former US President Donald Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace.” Musk, who has previously criticized the Davos gathering as a “world government,” seemed to strike a more conciliatory tone this time around.
During a conversation with Laurence Fink, the CEO of BlackRock and interim co-chair of the forum, Musk suggested that the name of Trump’s new initiative should be “Board of Piece” instead, alluding to the potential for the group to carve up territories like “a little piece of Greenland, a little piece of Venezuela.”
Musk’s appearance at Davos marks a reversal from his past criticisms of the event. In 2023, he had taken to social media to mock the forum, writing that it was “increasingly becoming an unelected world government that the people never asked for and don’t want.” However, this year, the Tesla CEO seemed intent on making his presence felt, declaring, “We’re gonna make this interesting.”
Trump’s “Board of Peace,” launched earlier this week, is intended to lead efforts in maintaining a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The initiative has faced skepticism from some of Washington’s closest allies, with the UK government expressing concerns about potential Russian involvement in the plan.
Despite Trump’s claims that 59 countries had signed onto the board, heads of state, top diplomats, and other officials from only 19 countries, plus the US, actually attended the event. The former president nevertheless told the assembled group, which ranged from Azerbaijan to Paraguay to Hungary, “You’re the most powerful people in the world.”
Musk’s relationship with Trump has been a tumultuous one. The tech mogul was a vocal supporter of the former president during his 2016 campaign and even headed up the Department of Government Efficiency, which was later criticized for not achieving its targets. However, the two later had a well-publicized falling out.
As the world’s elite gather in Davos, the tension between Musk and Trump’s competing visions for global governance is likely to continue to be a source of intrigue and debate.
