# Alex Gibney’s 'Musk' asks why we gave Elon Musk so much power

> Documentary reveals how Elon Musk gained unprecedented power and why we enabled it.
- Title: Alex Gibney’s 'Musk' asks why we gave Elon Musk so much power
- Summary: Documentary reveals how Elon Musk gained unprecedented power and why we enabled it. Alex Gibney’s documentary shows Elon Musk’s unchecked power and the…
- Keywords: elon musk, alex gibney, musk, documentary, tech power, elton musk, silicon valley, political power, unaccountable power, musk documentary, elton musk documentary, musk power
- Source: Salon — https://salon.com/2026/10/16/alex-gibneys-musk-asks-why-we-gave-elon-musk-so-much-power
- Author: Melanie McFarland
- Published: 2026-10-16T15:00:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elon musk, alex gibney, musk, documentary, tech power, elton musk, silicon valley, political power, unaccountable power, musk documentary, elton musk documentary, musk power
## Documentary release
Alex Gibney’s 'Musk' documentary asks why we gave Elon Musk so much power.
## Media suppression attempts
Bleecker Street couldn’t buy ads on TikTok, YouTube, Meta, or X before release.
## White House meeting
Zuckerberg, Musk, and Bezos met with Trump and Xi at the White House.
## Musk’s power sources
Musk gained power through American system’s financial and political loopholes.
## Musk’s past critics
Ex-wife Justine Musk and Ashley St. Clair describe him as a gaslighter and nuke.
## Musk’s refusal to appear
Musk refused to participate, so CGI avatar used for audio recordings.
## Musk’s political influence
Musk is spending more on midterms to secure military contracts and political power.
## Systemic risks
Department of Defense uses low-quality AI technology due to Musk’s influence.
## Musk’s chaotic behavior
Musk’s comments on Saturday Night Live were patently untrue but delivered as jokes.
## Political consequences
Department of Justice becomes protection racket for Trump allies.
## Musk’s power question
Musk can’t answer why he accumulated so much power.
## Documentary length
Documentary runs for almost four hours after Trump assassination attempt.
## Musk’s influence on politics
Musk’s political projects threaten democratic checks and balances.
## Musk’s power question
Musk’s power is unaccountable and increasingly chaotic.
## Systemic risks
Department of Defense uses low-quality AI technology due to Musk’s influence.
## Musk’s political influence
Musk is spending more on midterms to secure military contracts and political power.
## Key takeaway

Alex Gibney’s documentary shows Elon Musk’s unchecked power and the public’s role in enabling it.