The T-shirt-loving tech entrepreneur seemed to have liken his omnipresent self to the ‘Enlightened One’

It is hard to imagine Elon Musk abandoning his Givenchy suits and slogan T-shirts for the kasava (monk’s robe). But it is seems that Mr Musk has compared himself to Buddha when he said that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that he oversees “is a way of life, like Buddhism.” At a recent interview with reporters of mainstream media at the White House’s Roosevelt Room, he happily shared that he was cutting back on his involvement with the controversial budget-slashing program. When asked who will take over him, he replied impudently: “Is Buddha needed for Buddhism?” He went further, saying: “Buddha isn’t alive anymore. You wouldn’t ask the question: ‘Who would lead Buddhism?’”

You can imagine the eye-rolling when that was heard around the world. How is DOGE like Buddhism, he did not say. Furthermore, it isn’t Buddhism alone that has survived beyond its founder. Some of Mr Musk’s supporters said that he picked Buddhism because of its “philosophical associations”. If so, why not Cynicism or Stoicism? Or, for the more modern, Fascism? And deliberately choosing a religious philosophy associated with India, what was Mr Musk really trying to say? And why an Eastern philosophy, rather than a Western one? America’s current political and economic policies are often seen as contributing to—even exacerbating—existing power imbalances. Mr Musk’s choice of analogy inevitably invites scrutiny, especially in parts of the world where Buddhism is very much central to the people’s lives.

America’s current political and economic policies are often seen as contributing to—even exacerbating—existing power imbalances

The current administration has spawned high-profile individuals who do not care what they say about other countries and their people. JD Vance and Bill O’Reilly immediately come to mind. They have already painted Asian states in unflattering light. This lack of perceived care is what causes the most damage and any perceived slight can quickly escalate. But Mr Musk seemed to have outdone the others, comparing himself to an iconic religious figure. It is inherently insensitive, a display of extreme arrogance and disrespect, especially to the many who hold the Buddha to be the one and only. It is hard to understand why the MAGA-cap wearer invoked an Asian religious head. Comparing himself to the ‘Enlightened One’ instantly gives the appearance of hubris, and an inflated sense of self importance.

It is arguable that Elon Musk has deep knowledge about Buddhism, yet he would use it to underscore a point about something as divorced from religion as governmental budgetary cleanup. How is this not reducing a rich and long tradition to a simple, convenient metaphor? The straightening out of governmental budgets is a very secular task. To then use a religion to describe the work he has done creates a benighted juxtaposition that could reflect cultural or political bias. Not that someone with a large platform who has used it for some very dubious actions and behaviours is expected to be mindful of the impact of his words. All the wealth in the world, as it turns out, is not enough to confer cultural awareness. Or, sensitivity.

Illustration: Just So