# Ari Emanuel on power, politics, and gray areas

> The Hollywood power broker discusses his memoir, his disappointment with Trump, and doing business with controversial figures.
- Title: Ari Emanuel on power, politics, and gray areas | Shortify
- Summary: The Hollywood power broker discusses his memoir, his disappointment with Trump, and doing business with controversial figures. Emanuel sees business and…
- Keywords: ari emanuel, w.m.e., hollywood, talent agency, donald trump, elon musk, memoir, business ethics, politics, news, Ari, Emanuel
- Source: The New Yorker — https://newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/ari-emanuel-on-donald-trump-elon-musk-and-mixing-business-with-politics
- Author: The New Yorker
- Published: 2026-09-25T18:11:57.725+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ari emanuel, w.m.e., hollywood, talent agency, donald trump, elon musk, memoir, business ethics, politics, news
## From mailroom to Hollywood power
Ari Emanuel runs W.M.E., one of the world's largest talent agencies, overseeing careers of Oprah, Taylor Swift, and Martin Scorsese. His empire now includes wrestling, mixed martial arts, theaters, and ticketing.
## Trump's self-enrichment disappointed him
Emanuel expresses disappointment with Trump's focus on self-enrichment during his presidency, suggesting the former president prioritized personal gain over public service.
## Elon Musk is an incredible human being
Emanuel describes his close relationship with Elon Musk as deeply positive, calling him an incredible human being despite Musk's controversial public persona.

> incredible human being
## Business operates in shades of gray
Emanuel believes doing business requires navigating moral ambiguity, including relationships with controversial figures like Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman.
## Roll the Calls charts his rise
Emanuel's new memoir traces his journey from working in the mailroom to becoming a global power player in entertainment and business.
## Key takeaway

Emanuel sees business and politics as operating in shades of gray, where relationships with powerful people matter more than moral absolutes.